BOARD  OF  EDUCATION, 

.  -   {       CALIFORNIA,  MISSOURI. 


J.  P.  H.  Gray  Term  expires  1886 

W.  J.  FuLi^   "        "  1886 

C.  M.  GoE]%N   "        "   1885 

H.  A.  YaeiS:ll   "        "   1885 

N.  C.  Rice   "        "   1884 

J.  E.  Pearson   "        "  1884 

OFFICERS. 

J.  P.  H.  Gray  President. 

C  M.  Gordon  Secretary. 

H.  C.  Rice   Treasurer. 

F.  W.  Parsons  .Superintendent. 


STANDING  COMMITTEES. 

On  Buildings,  Grounds,  Gpparatus  and  Furniture — Rice,  Yar- 

NELL  and  Pearson. 
On  Text-Books — Gordon,  Rice  and  Fulks. 

On  Rules,  Regulations  and  Course  of  Study — Gordon,  Fulks, 

Pearson  and  Rice. 
On  Teachers — Yarnell,  Gordon  and  Pearson. 
On  Janitors  and  Supplies — Fulks. 
On  Fuel — Pearson  and  Rice. 
On  Claims — Fulks,  Yarnell  and  Rice. 


PREFACE. 


This  Hand-Book  is  for  ready  reference  and  daily  use.  Ife.con- 
tains  the  courses  of  study,  the  syllabus  of  instruction  and  all  l^des 
and  regulations  adopted  by  the  Board  of  Education  pertainin^i 
the  duties  of  teachers,  pupils,  parents  and  janitors. 

Teachers,  you  are  asked  to  make  this  a  note  book  filled  with 
comments  on  your  daily  work.  Also,  to  record  your  personal  trials 
in  discipline,  with  the  result  of  each  case.  Note  concisely  queries 
for  teachers'  meetings,  and  subjects  for  consultation  with  Superin- 
tendent. Make  your  notes  while  the  incidents  are  JFresh  in  the 
memory.  Study  the  grade  work  carefully.  Read  tlcM  rules  to  the 
pupils  in  regard  to  their  behavior,  and  also  explain,  as  often  as  may 
be  necessary  to  parents,  such  portions  of  the  rules  and  regulations 
as  they  ought  to  know. 

Please  write  all  entries  with  ink,  and  keep  the  book  clean,  as  I 
wish  it  returned  to  the  office  at  the  close  of  the  year.  However, 
should  you  wish  to  keep  a  copy  for  your  own  use,  a  duplicate  will 
be  furnished.  Truly  yours, 

F.  W.  PARSONS,  Superintendent. 
California,  Mo.,  August,  1883. 


RULES  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION. 


Section  1.  The  members  of  the  Board  of  Education  shall 
meet  and  organize  each  year,  as  required  by  law. 

Sec.  2.  At  the  first  meeting  after  the  organization  of  the 
Board  in  each  year,  the  President  shall  appoint,  subject  to  the  ap- 
proval of  the  Board,  the  following  standing  committees,  viz  : 

1.  A  committee  on  School  Buildings  and  Grounds,  Apparatus 
and  Furniture,  consisting  of  three  members. 

2.  A  committee  on  Text-Books  and  Course  of  Instruction,  con- 
sisting of  three  members. 

3.  A  committee  on  Rules  and  Regulations,  consisting  of  three 
members. 

4.  A  committee  on  Examination  and  Appointment  of  Teachers, 
consisting  of  the  President  of  the  Board,  two  other  members  and 
the  Superintendent. 

5.  A  committee  on  Janitors  and  Supplies,  consisting  of  the 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Buildings  and  Grounds,  the  Chair- 
man of  the  Auditing  Committee,  and  one  other  member. 

6.  An  Auditing  Committee,  consisting  of  three  members. 
Sec.  3.    The  Board  siiall  hold  its  regular  meetings  on  the  first 

Wednesday  of  each  month,  at  7:30  o'clock  p.  m.,  unless  otherwise 
ordered  by  the  Board.  Special  meetings  of  said  Board  may  be 
called  by  the  President,  or  by  two  members  thereof,  upon  giving 
five  days  notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  holding  the  same. 

Sec.  4.  A  majority  of  the  Board  shall  be  requisite  to  consti- 
tute a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business. 

Sec.  5.  All  questions  relating  to  the  conduct  of  Teachers,  their 
qualifications,  etc.,  shall  be  considered  with  closed  doors. 

POWERS  AND  DUTIES  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 

Sec.  6.  The  President  shall  take  the  chair  at  the  time  ap- 
pointed for  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  and  shall  call  the  members  to 
order,  and  on  the  appearance  of  a  quorum,  he  shall  cause  the  min- 
utes of  the  last  meeting  of  the  Board  to  be  read,  and  shall  proceed 
to  business  in  the  following  order : 

1.  Reports  of  committees,  to  be  called  in  order. 

2.  Petitions  and  communications. 

3.  Reports  and  suggestions  from  the  Superintendent. 


4 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


Sec.  7.  The  President  shall  preserve  order  and  decorum  in  the 
meetin«^s,  and  shall  decide  all  questions  of  order,  subject  to  appeal 
to  the  Board. 

Sec.  8.  The  President  shall  rise  to  address  the  Board,  but 
may  put  a  question  or  read  sitting.  Pie  shall  declare  all  votes ;  but 
in  case  of  doubt  shall,  on  request  of  any  member,  require  members 
to  rise,  and  stand  until  they  are  counted,  and  he  shall  then  declare 
the  result.  The  vote  on  any  question  may  be  taken  either  by  yeas 
and  nays  or  by  ballot,  when  any  member  shall  call  for  them. 

Sec.  9.  When  the  President  wishes  to  address  the  Board  at 
length,  on  any  subject  or  question  pending  before  it,  he  shall  re- 
quest some  member  to  take  the  chair  temporarily,  but  may  state 
facts  and  give  his  opinion  on  questions  of  order,  without  leaving 
the  chair. 

Sec.  10.  A  motion  to  adjourn  shall  always  be  in  order,  except 
when  a  member  has  the  floor,  or  when  a  question  has  been  put  and 
not  decided. 

RIGHTS  AND  DUTIES  OF  MEMBERS. 

Sec.  11.  When  any  member  is  about  to  speak  in  debate,  or  to 
present  any  matter  to  the  Board,  he  shall  rise  in  his  place  and  re- 
spectfully address  the  President,  and  shall  confine  himself  to  the 
question  under  debate,  and  avoid  personalities. 

Sec.  12.  No  member,  while  speaking,  shall  be  interrupted  by 
another,  except  to  call  to  order,  or  to  correct  a  mistake. 

Sec.  13.  No  member  shall  speak  more  than  five  minutes  at  any 
one  time  on  any  motion  or  order  under  discussion,  nor  more  than 
twice  on  the  same  question,  without  leave  first  obtained  of  the 
Board,  nor  more  than  once  until  all  the  members  choosing  to  speak 
shall  have  spoken. 

Sec.  14.  All  resolutions  offered  by  members  of  the  Board 
shall  be  submitted  in  writing. 

Sec.  15.  Any  question  of  order  not  provided  for  in  these  rules 
shall  be  decided  according  to  well  established  parliamentary  rules 
for  the  government  of  deliberative  bodies. 

DUTIES  OF  STANDING  COMMITTEES. 

Sec.  16.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  School 
Buildings  and  Grounds,  Apparatus  and  Furniture,  to  exercise  a 
general  supervision  over  the  warming  and  ventilation  of  the  several 
school  houses,  and  any  improvement  in  the  school  grounds  that 
may  be  found  necessary,  and  from  time  to  time  to  recommend  the 
purchase  of  such  apparatus  as  may  be  found  necessary,  and  the 
purchase,  change  or  alteration  of  such  school  furniture  as  they  may 
deem  expedient. 

Sec.  11.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Text-Books 
and  Course  of  Instruction  from  time  to  time  to  recommend  to  the 
Board  such  improvements  in  the  course  of  instruction,  and  such 
changes  in  the  books  used  in  the  schools,  as  ma}-  be  deemed  ex- 
pedient. 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


5 


Sec.  18,  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Rules  and 
Regulations,  from  time  to  time,  and  especially  at  the  season  for 
publishing  the  Annual  Report,  to  prepare  such  revisions  and  modi- 
fications of  the  rules  and  regulations  as  they  may  deem  expedient, 
and  submit  them  to  the  Board. 

Sec.  19.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Examin- 
ation and  Appointment  of  Teachers,  from  time  to  time  to  examine 
all  candidates  who  may  apply  for  situations  in  the  public  schools; 
(candidates  shall  be  examined  in  the  absence  of  all  spectators  ex- 
cept members  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  the  Superintendent;) 
to  make  such  appointments  and  transfers  of  female  teachers  as  the 
wants  of  the  several  schools  may  require  ;  but  all  appointments 
made  by  committee  shall  be  temporary  ;  and  at  each  regular  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  committee  to  pre- 
sent a  list  of  all  appointment  made  by  them  since  their  last  report; 
which  list  of  appointments  shall  be  recorded,  and  at  the  succeed- 
ing regular  meeting  the  same  shall  be  taken  up  as  a  part  of  the 
regular  business  of  the  Board,  and  acted  on  by  the  confirmation  or 
rejection  of  such  appointments  :  Provided,  that  the  Board  may 
j)ostpone  the  action  on  such  appointments  from  one  meeting  to 
another. 

Sec.  20.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Janitors  and 
Supplies  to  make  all  necessary  arrangements  for  the  care  of  the 
school  buildings  and  premises,  and  to  exercise  a  general  supervision 
of  the  various  supplies  of  fuel,  mats,  clocks,  crayons,  etc. 

Sec.  21.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Auditing  Committee  to  ex- 
amine all  bills  charged  to  the  School  Tax  fund,  and  express  their 
approval  or  dissent,  as  the  case  may  require.  All  bills  approved  by 
the  Auditing  Committee  shall  be  regarded  as  approved  by  the 
Board. 

Sec.  22.  None  of  the  foregoing  rules  shall  be  repealed  or 
altered,  unless  a  majority  of  all  the  members  of  the  Board  yote  for 
the  repeal  or  alteration,  nor  unless  upon  motion,  made  in  writing 
for  that  purpose,  at  a  previous  meeting  of  the  Board  ;  but  any  rule 
may  be  dispensed  with  for  a  particular  occasion,  on  the  concurrence 
of  two-thirds  of  all  the  members  present. 

ELECTION  OF  TEACHERS. 

K  U  L  E  1. 

The  school  year,  for  the  purposes  contemplated  in  these  rules, 
shall  commence  on  the  first  Monday  in  September  of  each  year, 
and  continue  forty  weeks. 

RULE  2. 

The  engagements  of  the  Board  of  Education  with  all  the  teach- 
ers of  the  public  schools  shall  terminate  at  the  expiration  of  the 
term  for  which  they  were  employed  ;  and  at  the  last  i-egular  meet- 
ing before  the  close  of  the  summer  term,  the  Board  shall  elect  such 
of  the  present  teachers  as  they  may  choose,  and  fix  their  salaries. 
The  Superintendent  may  be  elected  at  the  regular  meeting  in  May. 


RULES  AND  REGULATIONS. 


I. 


GENEEA.L  KULES. 


Section  1.  No  public  school  building  or  premises  shall  be 
rented  or  permitted  to  be  used  or  occupied  for  any  other  purpose 
whatever  than  for  public  schools. 

Se€.  2.  The  houses  shall  be  kept  locked  during  the  absence  of 
the  teachers,  and  no  person,  except  those  who  have  charge  of  said 
houses,  shall  have  permission  to  remain  in  or  enter  them  during 
such  absence  ;  Provided,  That  for  good  cause,  the  Superintendent 
may  suspend  the  last  clause  of  this  rule. 

Sec.  3,  The  hours  of  tuition  shall  be  from  9  o'clock  a.  m.,  to 
12  M.,  with  fifteen  minutes  recess ;  and  from  half  past  1  o'clock  p. 
M.,  to  half  past  4  p.  m.,  with  fifteen  minutes  recess.  The  Primary 
departments  may  be  dismissed  at  3:30  o'clock  p.  m. 

Sec.  4.  New  classes  shall  only  be  formed  in  the  lowest  grade 
of  the  Primary  departments  at  the  commencement  of  each  term. 

Sec.  5.  All  applications,  by  teachers  or  others,  to  the  Superin- 
tendent, on  school  matters,  shall  be  made,  as  far  as  practicable,  be- 
tween the  hours  of  4  and  5  o'clock  p.  m.,  on  school  days,  and  from 
9:30  to  11  A.  M.,  on  Saturdays,  at  the  ofiice  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion. 

Sec.  6.  Non-resident  pupils  shall  pay  in  advance  the  following 
rates  of  tuition  : 


No  non-resident  pupil  shall  be  admitted  to  any  school  who  does 
not  bring  a  notice  from  the  Superintendent  that  the  above  rates  of 
tuition  have  been  paid. 


Sec.  1.  The  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools  shall  visit  all 
the  schools  as  often  as  his  duties  will  permit ;  and  shall  pay  partic- 
ular attention  to  the  classification  of  the  pupils  in  the  several  schools, 
and  to  the  apportionment  among  the  classes  of  the  prescribed 


High  School  and  Grammar  Department 

Intermediate  Schools  ,  

Primary  ,  

Colored  ,  


$2.50  per  month. 


2.50 
1.50 
1.50 


II. 


DUTIES  OF  THE  SUPERINTENDENT. 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


7 


studies.  In  passing  from  school  to  school,  he  shall  endeavor  to 
transfer  improvements  and  to  remedy  defects.  He  shall  direct 
teachers  as  to  the  best  modes  of  government  and  instruction,  and 
always  be  ready  to  counsel  and  advise  them  in  all  matters  connected 
with  schools  under  their  charge. 

Sec.  8.  He  shall  have  authority  to  call  meetings  for  the  pur- 
pose of  conferring  with  the  teachers  in  respect  to  the  best  methods 
of  discipline  and  instruction.  He  shall  have  the  privilege  of  call- 
ing together,  at  those  meetings,  such  classes  of  the  schools  as  he 
may  wish  to  employ  in  illustrating  the  principles  presented. 

Sec.  9.  He  shall  carefully  observe  the  teaching  and  discipline 
of  all  the  teachers  employed  in  the  public  schools,  and  shall  report 
to  the  Board  of  Education  whenever  he  shall  find  any  teacher  de- 
ficient or  incompetent  in  the  discharge  of  his  or  her  duties. 

Sec.  10.  He  shall  devise  and  report  to  the  Board,  a  system  of 
blanks  for  registers  and  reports  ;  have  charge  of  their  distribution 
to  teachers,  and  return  by  them;  and  prescribe  to  teachers  rules  for 
keeping  the  same.  These  blanks  shall  be  especially  adapted  to  show 
the  scholarship  and  actual  attendance  of  each  pupil  in  the  schools, 
the  number  of  those  who  are  constant  and  uniform  in  attendance, 
and  of  those  who  ai-e  not,  together  with  the  degree  of  irregularity. 

Sec.  11.  He  shall  acquaint  himself  with  whatever  facts  and 
principles  may  concern  the  interests  of  popular  education,  and  with 
all  matters  in  any  way  pertaining  to  the  organization,  discipline  and 
instruction  of  public  schools,  to  the  end  that  all  the  children  of 
this  city,  who  are  instructed  in  the  public  schools,  may  obtain  the 
best  education  which  these  schools  can  impart. 

Sec.  12.  He  shall  keep  the  Board  constantly  advised  of  the 
condition  of  the  public  schools,  and  the  changes  required  in  the 
same  ;  he  shall  prepare  a  general  report  of  the  condition  of  the 
public  schools  at  the  close  of  each  school  year,  for  publication.  He 
shall,  moreover,  report  to  the  Board  of  Education,  from  time  to 
time,  such  by-laws  and  regulations  for  the  government,  discipline 
and  management  of  the  public  schools,  as  he  may  deem  expedient, 
and  the  same  may  be  adopted  by  the  Board ;  and  he  shall  also  [)er- 
form  such  other  duties  as  the  Board  may,  from  time  to  time,  direct. 

Sec.  13.  AH  directions  or  requirements  of  scholars  or  teach- 
ers, by  the  Board,  shall  be  communicated  through  the  Superinten- 
dent. 

HI, 

DUTIES  OF  TEACHERS. 

Sec.  14.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  the  teachers  to  make  them- 
selves acquainted  with  the  rules  prescribed  by  the  Board,  and  ob- 
serve and  enforce  the  same,  as  far  as  they  relate  to  their  several 
departments.  A  faithful  compliance  with  all  the  rules  relating  to 
teachers  shall  be  one  of  the  conditions  on  which  the  teachers  retain 
their  connection  with  the  public  schools.  ♦ 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


Sec.  15.  All  teacliers  in  the  public  schools  are  required  to  be 
-at  their  respective  school  rooms  from  the  first  of  November  to  the 
first  of  April,  thirty  minutes  before  the  time  prescribed  for  com- 
tnenciiig  school  in  the  morning,  and  fifteen  minutes  before  in  the 
afternoon  ;  during  the  remainder  of  the  school  year  they  shall  be 
present  twenty  minutes  before  the  time  prescribed  in  the  morning, 
and  fifteen  minutes  before  in  the  afternoon.  The  school  rooms 
shall  be  opened  at  this  time  for  the  reception  of  pupils.  Teachers 
who  are  not  present  at  their  respective  school  rooms  at  the  time 
required,  shall  report  themselves  as  tardy. 

Sec.  16.  Each  teacher  shall  prepare  a  program  of  daily  exer- 
cises, and  shall  furnish  a  neat  copy  to  the  Superintendent  within 
two  weeks  after  the  schools  commence,  and  shall  give  him  notice 
of  any  change  made  therein  during  the  year. 

Sec.  IV.  Each  teacher  is  required  to  have  a  copy  of  the  regu- 
lations in  his  or  her  school  room,  and  to  read  to  the  scholars,  at 
least  once  in  each  term,  so  much  of  the  same  as  will  give  them  a 
just  understanding  of  the  rules  which  apply  to  them,  and  by  which 
they  are  governed. 

ATTENDANCE  UPON  TEACHERS'  MEETINGS. 

Sec.  18.  All  teachers  in  the  employ  of  the  Board  shall  attend 
all  teachers'  meetings  which  the  Superintendent  may  appoint  (not 
exceeding  two  meetings  each  month),  and  absence  from,  or  tardi- 
ness at  such  meetings  shall  be  considered  equivalent  to  absence  or 
tardiness  during  the  ordinary  sessions  of  the  school. 

Sec.  19.  It  shall  be  a  duty  of  the  first  importance  on  the  part 
of  teachers,  to  exercise  constant  supervisi(5n  and  care  over  the  gen- 
eral conduct  of  their  scholars,  and  on  all  suitable  occasions  to  in- 
culate  the  observance  of  cori-ect  manners,  habits  and  principles,  not 
only  on  the  school  premises,  but  also  in  going  to  and  returning  from 
school. 

Sec.  20.  Fighting,  quarreling,  using  profane  or  indecent  lan- 
guage, or  encouraging  others  to  fight,  or  throwing  stones,  are 
strictly  prohibited. 

Sec.  21.    Running  and  playing  in  the  halls  is  strictly  prohibited. 

Sec.  22.  All  teachers  shall  punctually  observe  the  hours  ap- 
pointed for  opening  and  dismissing  the  schools ;  and  during  the 
time  from  the  opening  of  the  school  rooms  to  the  departure  of  the 
children  from  the  school  premises,  the  teachei-s  shall  faithfully  de- 
vote themselves  to  the  duties  of  their  oflfice. 

Sec.  23.  The  morning  exercises  of  each  department  of  the 
several  schools  may  commence  with  reading  the  Scriptures,  with- 
out note  or  comment,  and  this  exercise  may  be  followed  by  repeat- 
ing the  Lord's  prayer,  and  appropriate  singing  iiot  occupying  more 
than  ten  minutes. 

Sec.  24.  It  is  particularly  enjoined  upon  all  teachers  to  regard 
the  moral  and  social  culture  of  their  pupils  as  not  less  important 
than  tlieir  mental  discipline.    They  must  not  tolerate  in  them  false- 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


9 


hood,  profanity,  cruelty,  or  any  other  form  of  vice.  By  example 
and  precept  they  shall  endeavor  to  form  them  to  habits  of  social 
refinement,  forbidding  the  use  of  indelicate,  coarse  and  ungram- 
matical  language,  and  the  practice  of  unbecoming  attitudes. 

Sec.  25.  No  subscription  or  contribution  shall  be  allowed  in  the 
public  schools. 

Sec.  26.  No  teacher  shall  read,  or  allow  to  be  read,  any  adver- 
tisement, or  allow  any  advertisement  to  be  distributed  in  school  or 
upon  the  school  premises,  except  such  as  pertain  to  local  benevolent 
affairs,  and  then  only  when  authorized  by  the  Superintendent.  No 
agent  shall  be  allowed  to  announce  any  public  entertainment;  nor 
is  any  one  to  take  the  time  of  the  school  by  lectures  of  any  kind. 

Sec.  27.  No  teacher  shall  send  any  pupil  during  school  hours 
upon  errands  not  pertaining  to  the  business  affairs  of  the  school. 

Sec.  28.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  teachers  to  keep  their  rooms 
well  ventilated — to  see  tliat  the  air  ducts  are  kept  open  at  all  times 
when  the  school  is  in  session.  The  windows  should  be  lowered 
from  the  top,  and  particular  care  should  be  taken  that  the  pupils  are 
not  required  to  sit  in  drafts  of  cold  air.  The  rooms  in  winter 
should  never  be  heated  above  70  degrees  Fahrenheit.  No  window 
shall  be  raised  while  the  building  is  heated  by  furnaces. 

Sec.  29.  Any  teaclier  may  be  allowed  one-half  day  in  each 
term  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  other  public  scliools,  and  observing 
the  different  modes  of  instruction  and  discipline;  Provided,  Thnt 
any  tardiness  in  arrival  shall  be  reported,  and  the  entire  half  day 
shall  be  devoted  to  the  proper  object  for  which  such  visits  are 
allowed;  but  no  school  shall  be  closed  without  the  permission  of  the 
Superintendent.  Nor  shall  more  than  one  school  be  closed  in  any 
building  at  the  same  time. 

Sec.  30.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Superintendent  to  see  that 
all  the  clocks  belonging  to  the  schools  are  regulated  by  the  city 
time  every  morning  ;  and  all  the  teachers  shall  conform  to  this 
standard  in  making  their  record  of  attendance  both  for  themselves 
and  their  pupils. 

Sec.  31.  The  Superintendent  shall  be  held  responsible  for  the 
general  management  and  discipline  of  the  schools,  and  tfie  other 
teachers  shall  follow  his  directions  and  co-operate  with  him  not 
only  during  the  school  hours,  but  during  the  time  when  the  pupils 
are  on  the  school  premises  before  and  after  school,  and  during  the 
recesses.  Each  assistant  shall  be  held  responsible  for  the  order 
and  discipline  of  his  or  her  own  room,  under  the  general  direction 
of  the  Superintendent. 

Sec.  32.  The  Superintendent  of  the  schools  shall  establish 
special  rules  for  the  purpose  of  securing  uniform  good  order  on  the 
part  of  the  scholars  in  passing  through  the  halls  and  stairways,  at 
the  commencement  of  the  school,  at  recesses,  and  at  dismissal.  It 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  other  teachers  to  co-operate  fully  in  secur- 
ing this  object. 

Sec.  33.    The  Superintendent  shall  prescribe  such  regulations 


10 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


as  sIimU  insure  the  good  condition,  neatness  and  cleanliness  of  the 
yards,  basements  and  out-buildings. 

Sec  34.  The  Superintendent  shall  examine  the  class  books  and 
registers  at  least  once  a  month,  giving  such  directions  as  will  insure 
tlieir  being  kept  in  a  proper  manner.  All  records,  except  in  the 
class  books,  must  be  made  in  ink.  All  the  class  books  and  other 
record  books,  when  filled  up,  and  at  the  close  of  each  school  year, 
are  to  be  returned  to  the  office  of  the  Board  of  Education. 

Sec.  35.  The  teachers  shall  furnish  to  the  Superintendent  the 
monthly  reports  required  of  them.  These  reports  should  be' in  the 
hands  of  the  Superintendent  on  or  before  the  Monday  evening  next 
following  the  last  day  of  the  month  covered  by  the  report.  They 
shall  also  furnish,  or  cause  to  be  furnished,  a  report  of  the  attend- 
ance, scholarship  and  behavior  of  each  pupil  to  the  parents  or  guar- 
dian of  the  same. 

Sec.  36.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  teachers  employed  in  the 
public  schools,  to  attend  a  Teachers'  Meeting,  to  be  held  on  the 
second  Saturday  of  each  school  month,  at  the  High  School  Room, 
or  such  other  jjlace  as  the  Superintendent  may  direct.  This  meet- 
ing shall  be  opened  at  9  o'clock,  and  continue  until  12  o'clock  m., 
or  longer  if  necessary,  with  a  recess  of  fifteen  minutes. 

Sec.  37.  The  teachers  shall  practice  such  discipline  in  the 
school  as  would  be  exercised  by  a  kind,  firm,  judicious  parent  in 
his  family,  and  they  shall  avoid  corporal  punishment  when  good 
order  can  be  preserved  with  milder  measures.  It  is  strictly  enjoined 
upon  all  teachers  to  avoid  all  appearance  of  indecent  haste,  and 
passionate  or  harsh  expressions  in  the  discipline  of  their  pupils, 
and  in  the  more  difficult  cases  that  may  occur,  to  apply  to  the 
Superintendent  for  advice  and  direction.  All  cases  of  corporal 
punishment  shall  be  reported  to  the  Su[)erintendent  at  the  end  of 
each  month. 

Sec.  38.  All  teachers,  when  absent  from  school,  except  for 
sickness,  shall  forfeit  their  salary  during  the  continuance  of  such 
absence  :  Provided,  no  compensation  shall  be  allowed  to  any 
teacher  after  an  absence  of  one  week.  In  all  cases  of  sickness 
teachers  are  expected  to  notify  the  Superintendent  immediately,  and 
a  failure  to  do  so  will  cause  a  forfeiture  of  salary. 

Sec.  39.  No  school  shall  be  closed  without  the  permission  of 
the  Superintendent,  except  in  case  of  sudden  sickness  or  other 
eniergency,  when  the  Superintendent  may  grant  such  permission. 

•      ■  duties  to  superintendent. 

Sec.  40.  All  teachers  shall  be  subject  to  the  direction  of  the 
Superintendent,  in  the  employment  of  their  time  during  school 
hours  ;  shall  rigidly  enforce  all  the  rules  by  his  direction  ;  shall  re- 
port to  him  all  cases  requiring  his  authority  ;  shall  carry  out  his 
plans  and  methods  of  instruction  and  order  ;  shall  report  to  him  as 
often  as  required,  such  facts  as  are  made  a  matter  of  record,  and 
shall  zealously  unite  with  him  in  advancing  the  interests  of  the 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


11 


sehool.  Whenever  any  teacher  shall  be  temporarily  absent  from 
school,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  teacher  to  send  notice  forthwith 
to  the  Superintendent,  stating  the  cause  of  such  absence. 


IV. 

DUTIES  OF  PUPILS. 

Sec.  41.  All  children  between  the  ages  of  six  and  twenty  years, 
who  are  bona  fide  residents  of  the  School  District,  have  a  right  to 
the  privileges  of  the  public  schools  ;  but  no  child,  whose  residence 
is  not  in  the  district,  or  who  has  only  a  temporary  residence  in  it 
for  the  purpose  of  attending  the  public  schools,  shill  be  received 
in  any  school. 

TO  PARENTS. 

Sec.  42.  When  pupils  enter  the  school,  the  Superintendent 
should  be  informed  of  any  constitutional  weakness  or  infirmity  to 
which  they  may  be  subject,  that  special  attention  may  be  given 
them. 

Sec.  43.  Each  applicant  must  present  to  the  teacher  a  cer- 
tificate of  admission  from  the  Superintendent.  This  certificate 
must  be  obtained  by  the  parent  or  guardian. 

Sec.  44.  No  pupil  shall  be  allowed  to  retain  connection  with 
any  school  unless  furnished  with  books,  slate  and  other  articles  to 
be  used  in  the  class  to  which  he  belongs  :  Provided,  That  no 
pupil  shall  be  excluded  for  such  cause  unless  the  parent  or  guar- 
dian shall  be  furnished  by  the  teacher  with  a  list  of  books  or 
articles  needed,  and  one  week  shall  elapse  after  such  notice,  without 
the  pupil  obtains  said  books  :  Pro  aided,  farther,  That  no  teacher 
shall  suspend  a  pupil  for  the  cause  stated  in  this  section,  without 
first  consulting  with  the  Supei-intendent.  Pupils  must  cheerfully 
obey  the  requirements  of  the  teachers. 

Sec.  45.  A  pupil,  for  violent  or  pointed  opposition  to  author- 
ity, in  any  particular  instance,  a  teacher  shall  immediately  report 
the  case  to  the  Superintendent  for  determination. 

Sec.  46.  Every  pupil  shall  pay  for  all  damages  he  or  she  may 
do  to  the  property  of  other  pupils;  and  any  pupil  who  shall  in  any 
way  cut,  or  otherwise  injure  any  part  of  any  public  school  house, 
or  furniture,  or  injure  any  fences,  trees  or  out-buildings  belonging 
to  any  of  the  public  school  estates,  or  shall  write  any  profane  or 
obscene  language,  or  make  any  obscene  pictures  or  characters  on 
any  public  school  premises,  shall  pay  for  the  same  and  shall  be  lia- 
ble to  suspension,  expulsion  or  other  punishment,  according  to  the 
nature  of  the  offense. 

Sec.  47.  Whenever  the  teacher  of  any  school  shall  report  to 
the  Superintendent  the  name  of  a  pupil  whose  conduct  is  con- 
sidered such,  in  school  or  out,  that  he  is  an  unfit  member  of  the 
school,  the  Superintendent  shall  examine  the  case  without  delay. 


12 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


and  if  in  liis  opinion  tlie  pupil  has  been  duly  admonisherl,  and  re- 
formation appears  to  be  hopeless,  he  shall  suspend  such  pupil  from 
school,  and  shall  report  the  case  to  the  Board  at  its  next  meeting. 

EXPULSION. 

Sec.  48.  Two  cases  of  suspension  in  the  same  year  shall  con- 
stitute an  expulsion  for  the  balance  of  the  year,  unless  very  clear 
evidence  is  given  that  the  circumstances  causing  suspension  were 
unavoidable. 

Sec.  49.  Whenever  a  parent  wishes  to  have  his  child  leave 
school  before  its  close,  for  the  purpose  of  attending  to  any  music, 
writing  or  drawing  lessons,  he  shall  apply  to  the  Superintendent, 
who  may  grant  such  permission,  provided  it  will  not  interfere  with 
the  pupil's  i-egular  course  of  instruction  in  school. 

RESTORATION. 

Sec.  50.  Parents  or  guardians  desiring  the  restoration  of 
their  children  who  have  been  suspended,  must  apply  to  the  Super- 
intendent, who  shall  have  authority  to  restore  a  pupil  only  if  it  be 
his  first  suspension  for  any  school  year,  or  to  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion, and  before  their  requests  are  granted  must  give  assurance  that 
they  will  use  their  utmost  efforts  to  secure  entire  conformity  to  all 
I'ules  of  the  school  on  the  part  of  their  children. 

Sec.  51.  The  bell  of  each  school  shall  be  rung  three  minutes 
before  the  hour  for  commencing  school,  and  every  pupil  who  is  not 
in  the  school  room  when  the  hour  arrives,  shall  be  marked  as  tardy. 

Sec.  52.  Every  scholar  \vho  shall  be  absent  four  half  days  in 
four  consecutive  weeks,  without  an  excuse  from  the  parent  or 
guardian,  given  either  in  person  or  by  written  note,  satisfying  the 
teacher  that  the  absences  were  caused  by  his  own  sickness  or  by 
sickness  in  the  family,  or  other  unavoidable  circumstances,  shall 
forfeit  his  seat  in  the  school,  and  the  Superintendent  shall  forthwith 
notify  the  parent  that  the  pupil  is  suspended.  No  pupil  thus  sus- 
pended, unless  for  sickness,  shall  be  restored  to  school  until  the 
parent  or  guardian  has  given  satisfactory  assurance  that  the  pupil 
will  be  punctual  in  the  future,  and  obtained  permission  from  the 
Superintendent  for  him  to  return.  Parents  should,  in  all  cases,  be 
notified  by  written  or  printed  note,  of  the  absence  of  their  chil- 
dren ;  the  first  two  may  be  sent  by  the  pupil,  but  the  third,  when 
practicable,  shall  be  served  by  the  teacher,  personally.  In  the  ap- 
plication of  the  foregoing  rule,  two  tardinesses,  or  leaving  school 
without  permission,  shall  be  regarded  the  same  as  one  absence. 

Sec.  53.  Any  pupil  who  shall  absent  himself  from  any  regular 
examination,  or  special  exercise  of  the  school  which  he  attends, 
without  rendering  a  satisfactory  excuse  to  the  teacher,  shall  be  sus- 
pended from  school,  and  the  teacher  shall  immediately  report  the 
case  to  the  parent  of  the  pupil;  and  also  to  the  Superintendent  for 
his  action  thereon. 

Sec.  54.    The  promotion  of  pupils  from  one  grade  or  class  to 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


13 


another,  shall  be  made  at  such  times  as  the  interests  of  the  schools 
may  require.  No  pupil  shall  be  promoted  from  one  grade  or  class 
to  another,  until  he  is  able  to  sustain  an  examination  satisfactory  to 
the  Superintendent  in  all  the  studies  of  the  grade  from  which  he  is 
to  be  transferred. 

Sec.  55.  Any  scholar  carrying  fire-arms,  or  other  deadly 
weapons,  or  a  toy  pistol,  shall  be  suspended  and  reported  to  the 
Board. 

Sec.  56.  Any  child  coming  to  school  without  proper  attention 
being  given  to  cleanliness,  or  whose  clothes  need  repairing,  shall 
be  sent  home  to  be  properly  prepared  for  school. 

Sec.  5V.  No  teacher  or  pupil  shall  use  tobacco  in  any  form 
about  the  school  buildings. 

Sec.  58.  No  pupil  shall  be  permitted  or  continued  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  known  to  be  affected  with  a  contagious  or  infectious 
disease,  or  coming  from  a  family  where  any  such  disease  prevails. 

Sec.  59.  No  pupil  shall  be  received  in  any  public  school  with- 
out furnishing  evidence  satisfactory  to  the  Superintendent,  that  he 
or  she  has  been  vaccinated  or  secured  against  small-pox. 

Sec.  60.  No  pupil  shall  leave  one  department  to  attend  another 
without  the  written  consent  of  the  Superintendent,  which  will  only 
be  granted  upon  the  certificate  of  the  teacher. 

Sec.  61.  No  pupil  shall  leave  school  before  the  hour  of  closing 
without  the  permission  of  the  teacher. 

Sec.  62.  After  the  first  week  in  the  year,  new  pupils  will  only 
be  admitted  to  the  schools  on  Monday  morning  of  each  week. 

Sec.  63.  No  pupil  shall  be  examined  for  transfer  to  the  High 
School,  who  does  not  bring  a  certificate  from  the  teacher  of  the 
school  to  which  he  belongs,  stating  that  he  has  sustained  a  good 
character  in  scholarship  and  deportment  while  belonging  to  the 
school. 

Sec.  64.  Any  pupil  who  wilfully  violates  these  rules  will  be 
punished,  suspended  or  expelled,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Superin- 
tendent and  Jioard  of  Education. 


HIGH  SCHOOL. 

Section  1.  No  pupil  shall  be  admitted  to  the  High  School 
who  is  not  twelve  years  of  age,  and  who  has  not  passed  a  satis- 
factory examination  in  reading,  spelling,  penmanship,  geography, 
grammar,  arithmetic  and  United  States  History. 

Sec.  2.  All  pupils  admitted  shall  be  on  probation  the  first 
term,  and  if  at  the  end  of  that  time  they  do  not  hold  a  fair  position 
in  the  classes,  they  shall  be  withdrawn  from  the  school.  If  at  the 
time  of  making  the  Monthly  Report  to  parents,  the  pupil  is  found 
to  have  a  scholarship  or  deportment  average  of  less  than  15,  he  or 
she  may  be  dropped  into  a  lower  class. 

Sec.  3.  If  a  pupil  has  an  average  of  less  than  75  in  any  study, 
the  fact  shall  be  noted  on  the  Ledger,  under  the  head  of  Studies 
not  satisfactorily  completed^ 


14 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


RULES  FOR  THE  JANITOR. 

Section  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Janitor  to  ring  the  bell 
at  such  times  as  the  Superintendent  may  direct. 

Sec.  2.  He  shall  also  keep  the  house  in  a  neat  and  proper  man- 
ner, sweeping  it  daily,  and  scrubbing  when  necessary. 

Sec.  3.  He  shall  make  all  fires,  and  see  that  the  rooms  are 
kept  comfortably  heated  during  the  hours  of  school. 

Sec.  4.  He  shall  take  charge  of  the  building  and  premises  at 
the  close  of  each  afternoon  session,  locking  doors,  fastening 
windows,  examining  fires,  and  perform  any  other  duty  necessary  to 
the  safety  of  the  building  and  its  contents. 

Sec.  5.  He  shall  make  a  daily  review  of  the  school  building 
and  privies,  and  report  to  the  Principal  or  the  Superintendent  any 
injury  done  to  the  same. 

Sec.  6.  He  shall  also  perform  such  other  duties  as  the  Super- 
intendent, in  connection  with  the  Board,  may  direct,  and  keep  all 
the  fences,  pumps  and  out  property  in  good  repair. 


EXAMINATIONS. 

Section  1.  There  shall  be,  at  the  end  of  the  year,  an  examin- 
ation held  for  the  transfer  of  pupils  from  one  grade  to  another. 

Sec.  2.  At  the  close  of  each  school  year  there  shall  be  an  ex- 
amination of  all  candidates  for  admission  into  the  High  School, 
which  shall  be  conducted  in  writing  by  the  Superintendent,  who 
may  call  to  his  assistance  any  or  all  the  teachers  in  said  school; 
and  at  the  close  of  the  examination  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
Superintendent  to  report  a  list  of  the  successful  candidates  to  the 
Board.  If  the  Board  shall  deem  it  necessary,  a  second  examin- 
ation may  be  held  just  before  the  commencement  of  the  school  in 
September. 

Sec.  3.  At  the  close  of  the  month  the  classes  in  the  Grammar 
Department  of  each  school,  and  the  classes  in  the  High  School, 
«hall  be  examined  by  the  teachers  with  written  questions  prepared 
by  the  Superintendent,  and  the  results,  in  tabular  form,  of  such 
examinations,  together  with  the  questions  and  examination  papers, 
shall  be  reported  to  the  Board  for  their  inspection. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  teachers  to  hold  a  written  exam- 
ination at  least  once  in  four  weeks,  in  the  classes  of  the  5th,  4th, 
3d,  2d  and  1st  grades.  The  studies  shall  be  taken  up  consecu- 
tively, and  the  results  of  the  examination  recorded  in  the  class- 
books,  and  the  questions  and  examination  papers  filed  in  the  office 
of  the  Board. 

DIPLOMAS. 

Students  who  complete  the  prescribed  course  satisfactorily,  and 
pass  the  examination  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  Superintend- 
ent, will  receive  appropriate  Diplomas,  signed  by  the  Superintend- 
ent, and  President  and  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education,  with 
the  seal  of  the  Board  attached. 


COURSE  OF  STUDY. 


The  subjoined  Course  of  Study  represents  what  the  average 
teacher  ought  to  accomplish  with  the  average  class. 

It  may  be  possible  to  do  more,  and  sometimes  less — but  in  either 
case  the  Superintendent  must  be  informed  of  the  causes,  etc. 

These  matters  have  been  talked  over  so  often  at  our  monthly 
meetings,  that  it  is  unnecessary  here  to  go  into  details. 

All  Courses  of  Study  are  in  a  measure  experimental,  and  it  is 
expected  that  this  will  need  to  be  corrected  from  time  to  time. 


TO  THE  TEACHERS. 


HOW  TO  CONDUCT  A  LESSON. 

(a)  Prepare  yourself  beforehand  on  the  subject  of  the  lesson  of 
the  day,  fixing  in  your  mind  exactly  what  subjects  you  will  bring 
up,  just  What  definitions  and  illustrations  you  will  give  or  draw  out 
of  the  class.  All  must  be  marked  and  written  down  in  the  form  of 
a  synopsis.  The  blackboard  is  a  most  valuable  appliance  in  oral 
lessons  ;  on  it  should  be  written  the  teclmical  words  discussed,  the 
classification  of- the  knowledge  brought  out  in  the  recitation,  and, 
whenever  possible,  illustrative  drawings,  (b)  Pains  should  be 
taken  to  select  passages  from  the  reference  books,  or  from  other 
books  illustrative  of  the  subject  under  discussion,  to  be  read  to  the 
class  with  explanation  and  conversation,  (c)  Wherever  tlje  subject 
is  of  such  a  nature  as  to  allow  of  it,  the  teacher  should  bring  in 
real  objects  illustrative  of  it,  and  encourage  the  children  to  do  the 
same,  (d)  But  more  stress  should  be  laid  on  a  direct  appeal  to 
their  experience,  encouraging  them  to  describe  what  they  have 
seen  and  heard,  and  arousing  habits  of  reflection  and  enabling  the 
pupil  to  acquire  a  good  command  of  language,  (e)  Great  care 
must  be  taken  by  the  teacher  not  to  burden  the  pupil  with  too  many 
new  technical  phrases  at  a  time,  nor  to  fall  into  the  opposite  error 
of  using  only  the  loose,  common  vocabulary  of  ordinary  life,  which 
lacks  scientific  precision. 

Relieve  the  work  by  as  much  variety  as  possible  ;  Jirst,  reading 
and  explaining  something  adapted  to  the  capacity  of  your  pupils; 
secondly,  drawing  out  in  a  conversational  manner  the  experience 
and  information  which  your  scholars  already  possess  on  the  subject; 
thirdly,  exhibiting  the  visible  objects  which  you  or  the  pupils  have 
brought  to  illustrate  the  lesson,  and  requiring  the  pupils  to  notice 
:^nd  name  the  properties,  qualities,  parts,  and  attributes  ;  fourthly, 
never  omitting  to  show  by  a  synopsis  on  the  blackboard  what  has 
been  discussed  in  the  lesson,  its  classification  and  relation. 


PRIMARY  SCHOOLS. 


FIRST  YEAR  OR  GRADE-COURSE  OF  STUDY- 


FIRST  TERM  OR  QUARTER. 

Reading, — First  Reader.  Teach  children  to  recognize  the  char- 
acters representing  the  different  sounds,  and  to  give  the  name  and 
sound  of  letter  distinctly.  They  should  be  taught  to  read  in  a 
natural  and  pleasant  tone,  not  too  low  and  not  too  loud ;  also  to 
spell  by  sound  and  letter,  all  words  in  the  lessons.  All  words 
neatly  printed  or  written  on  slates. 

Number. — Addition  and  subtraction  of  numbers  under  ten,  using 
objects  represented  on  the  blackboard  by  marks,  using  the  words 

and^  less  and  are,  and  the  signs  H  and  =.    (Concrete  examples.) 

Comparison  of  numbers  under  ten,  having  a  difference  of  one,  two, 
three,  &c.;  all  ways  of  producing  numbers  as  far  as  ten,  develop 
figures,  giving  uses,  through  9  (inclusive)  ;  Roman  letters  to  ten. 

Writing. — The  first  four  principles  of  Spencerian  series,  and  the 
letters  formed  by  them.  Children  should  be  able  to  write  easy 
words  by  the  close  of  the  term,  on  slates  or  blackboard. 

Drawing. — The  children  should  be  taught  to  draw  by  combining 
straight  lines  from  1  to  10. 

GENERAL  LESSONS. 

Human  Body. — Lessons  on  principal  parts  of  the  body,  general 
divisions  of  the  head,  trunk  and  limbs. 

Animals. — Finding,  naming  and  numbering  different  parts  of 
cow,  horse,  dog,  cat  and  rabbit.  Describing  and  giving  position  of 
parts  of  sheep,  squirrel,  mouse,  lion  and  elephant. 

Objects. — Find,  name,  number  and  describe  ;  and  give  uses  of 
parts  of  familiar  objects. 

SECOND  TERM. 

Reading. — First  Reader,  and  review  thoroughly.  Children 
should  be  able  to  read  distinctly  and  naturally  any  lesson  gone 
over ;  and  to  spell,  by  sound  and  letter,  all  words  in  the  book,  and 
fifty  common  words  used  in  general  lessons  and  names  of  objects 
in  the  room.    They  should  be  taught  to  name  the  capital  letters 


18 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


with  the  spelling  of  proper  names,  and  the  period  after  abbrevia- 
tions. The  number  of  the  page  and  lesson  should  be  given,  ex- 
pressed in  ordinals.    Each  lesson  written  on  slates. 

Number. — Review  first  terra's  work,  and  substitute  figures  in- 
stead of  marks.  Develop  ordinals  to  ten,  using  objects,  giving 
terms  first,  second,  third,  &c.  ' 

Write  and  read  numbers  to  50 ;  Roman  notation  to  L.;  addi- 
tion and  subtraction  of  ones  and  twos  to  50,  using  and.,  less  and  are^ 
and  the  signs  -]  =. 

Illustrate  all  work  with  objects  and  concrete  examples. 

Writing. — Same  as  first  term's  work.  Special  attention  should 
be  given  to  the  correct  formation  of  letters. 

Drawing. — Combinations  of  straight  lines. 

GENERAL  LESSONS. 

Color. — Distinguishing  and  naming  colors  ;  primary  and  sec- 
ondary. 

Sirds. — Finding,  naming  and  numbering  parts  of  hen,  pigeon, 
goose,  duck,  peacock.  Describing  and  giving  position  of  parts  of 
canary,  robin,  owl,  swan.    Review  all  lessons  from  the  beginning. 

THIRD  AND  FOURTH  TERMS. 

Reading. — Second  Reader.  Directions  same  as  for  second  term. 
All  words  in  reading  lessons  spelled  ;  also,  all  new  words  in  general 
lessons,  with  a  thorough  review. 

Number. — Addition  and  subtraction  of  twos  to  100.  Counting 
by  twos  to  one  hundred,  forward  and  backward.  Develop  idea  of 
figure  in  ten's  place  ;  write  and  read  numbers  to  99  ;  Roman  nota- 
tion to  LX. 

Neat  tables  made  on  slates.  Concrete  examples  (without  anal- 
ysis).   Write  and  spell  names  of  cardinals  and  ordinals  to  fifty. 

Writing. — Children  should  be  able  to  write  their  own  names  on 
their  slates,  also  short  sentences.  The  use  of  the  capital  letter  and 
the  period  at  the  beginning  and  close  of  a  sentence. 

Drawing. — Simple  figures  copied  from  blackboard. 

GENERAL  LESSONS. 

Plants. — Roots — their  use — supporting  the  plant,  nourishing  it, 
and  furnishing  it  food.    Common  forms  of  roots. 

Stem — its  uses  in  supporting  the  branches. 

Leaves — their  common  forms,  parts,  uses  and  names. 

Flowers — their  form,  color,  perfume  and  names.  In  this  grade 
use  common  names  only. 

Size. — Relative  size  of  objects ;  relative  size  of  lines  drawn  by 
children  ;  relative  distances  between  marks  and  between  parallel 
lines  on  board. 

General  review  of  all  work  gone  over. 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


19 


Physical  exercises  and  singing  daily  throughout  the  year. 
Moral  lessons  given  occasionally  by  reading  or  telling  stories. 
For  methods  in  all  oral  lessons  see  Sheldon's  Manual  of  Ele- 
mentary Instruction  and  Calkin's  Object  Lessons. 


wSECOND  YEAR  OR  GRADE-COURSE  OF  STUDY 


FIRST  TERM. 

Reading. — Second  Reader.  Children  should  be  taught  to  read 
distinctly  and  naturally,  avoiding  all  drawling  or  monotony  of 
voice.  They  should  also  be  able  to  give  in  their  own  language,  the 
substance  of  each  lesson.  The  number  of  the  page  and  lesson 
should  be  given  in  ordinals.  Lead  children  to  observe  capital  let- 
ters and  give  simple  directions  for  using  them.  Names  and  use  of 
punctuation  marks;  analysis  of  words  without  representing  sounds; 
all  words  spelled ;  important  words  defined;  spelling  lessons  neatly 
written  upon  slates. 

Spelling. — In  addition  to  all  words  in  the  reading,  children 
should  learn  to  spell  the  names  of  the  days  of  the  week,  the  names 
of  the  months  of  the  year,  and  all  new  words  used  in  general  les- 
sons. 

Number. — Addition  and  subtraction  of  2's,  3's,  4's  and  5's  to 
100.  Counting  by  2's  and  3's  to  100,  forward  and  backward; 
Arabic  notation  to  500;  Roman  notation  to  100.  Each  meaning 
and  spelling  of  the  terms  plus,  minus  and  equal.  Neat  tables  made 
upon  slates  or  blackboard.  Prompt  answers  to  concrete  examples 
without  analysis. 

Writing. — All  the  principles,  small  and  capital  letters,  and  short 
sentences.    Spencerian  copy-book,  No.  1. 

Great  care  and  attention  should  be  given  to  the  neatness  and 
accuracy  of  the  work.  The  teacher  should  make  constant  use  of 
tlie  blackboard  in  showing  errors  committed  by  the  pupils,  and  illus- 
trating the  correct  method. 

Drawing. — Combinations  of  straight  lines. 

General  Lessons. — See  lessons  in  science. 

SECOND  TERM. 

Heading. — Second  Reader.    Directions  same  as  for  first  term. 

Spelling.— AW  words  in  reading  and  fifty  words  used  in  general 
lessons  and  names  of  familiar  objects,  and  a  thorough  review  of  all 
words  learned. 

Numbers.— Adi^iiiow  of  -I's,  5's  and  6's  to  100.  Counting  by 
3's,  4's  and  5's  to  100,  forward  and  backward  ;  multiplication  of  2'8, 
3's,  4's  and  5's.    Make  neat  and  prompt  tables  on  slate  or  black- 


20 


CALIPOKNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


board.  Concrete  examples  (no  analysis) ;  Arabic  notation  to  1,000; 
Roman  notation  to  D. 

Writing. — Same  as  for  first  term.  Special  attention  to  position 
and  holding  pen. 

Drawing. — Combinations  of  straight  lines  from  ten  to  twenty. 

General  Lessons.  —  See  lessons  in  science. 

THIRD  AND  FOURTH  TERMS. 

Reading. — Finish  Second  Reader.  All  lessons  should  be  read 
distinctly  and  naturally,  emphasizing  the  important  words,  so  as  to 
bring  out  the  thought  of  the  writer.  Children  should  be  taught  to 
rejjroduce  the  lesson,  or  a  part  of  it,  in  their  own  language  on  their 
slates. 

Spelling. — Children  should  be  able  to  spell,  orally  or  in  writing, 
all  the  words  in  the  second  reader,  the  names  of  the  cardinals  and 
ordinals  to  one  hundred,  and  the  names  of  one  hundred  things, 
selected  from  their  general  lessons.  They  should  also  be  able  to 
analyze  any  word  in  the  reader,  ai.d  give  the  meaning  of  new 
words. 

Numbers. — Plus  and  minus- tables  of  6's,  V's  and  8's  to  100. 
Count  by  6's  and  7's  to  100  ;  Multiplication  of  6's  and  7's  and  a 
general  review  ;  Concrete  examples ;  Arabic  notation  to  1,000  ; 
Roman  notation  to  D. 

Writing. — Children  should  be  able  to  make  all  the  principles, 
small  and  capital  letters,  and  write  simple  sentences,  commencing 
each  with  a  capital  letter  and  close  with  a  period  or  interrogation 
point. 

Draioing. — Simple  designs  composed  of  straight  or  curved  lines. 
General  Lessons. — See  lessons  in  science. 
Physical  exercises  and  singing  daily  throughout  the  year. 
Morals  and  manners  should  receive  constant  attention  and  be 
improved  whenever  opportunity  is  presented. 


THIRD  YEAR  OR  GRADE-COURSE  OF  STUDY. 


FIRST  AND  SECOND  TERMS. 

Reading. — Third  Reader.  Short  lessons  should  be  given  so 
that  they  can  be  well  prepai-ed,  and  that  the  pupils  may  be  able  to 
pronounce  the  words  readily  and  read  intelligently.  The  pupils 
should  give,  in  their  own  language,  the  substance  of  each  lesson. 

The  teacher  should  give  special  attention  to  clear  articulation 
and  correct  pronunciation.  The  use  of  phonics  will  greatly  aid  in 
this.  The  sounds  of  the  letters  should  be  carefully  taught  and  the 
names  and  marking  of  each. 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


21 


Spelling. — All  words  in  the  reading  lessons  should  be  learned, 
and  the  definitions  of  the  important  words.  Constant  reviews 
should  be  made,  so  that  when  the  book  is  finished  the  pupils  will 
be  able  to  spell  any  word  in  it.  They»should  also  learn  to  spell 
fifty  words  in  general  lessons  and  names  of  familiar  objects. 
Pupils  should  be  able  to  write  on  slates  or  blackboard  at  d^ictation, 
any  lesson,  also  to  write  sentences  containing  one  or  more  words  in 
lesson. 

Oral  Geography— Vo%\t\OY\  (absolute  and  relative),  direction, 
boundaries,  idea  of  map  and  use  of  scale  developed,  map  of  school- 
room drawn,  using  scale,  position  of  articles  of  furniture,  and 
different  parts  of  room  indicated  from  actual  measurement,  made  by 
children.  Map  of  first  floor  of  school  building,  school  lot  and 
school  block.  General  description  of  city  map,  scale  of  map,  rail- 
i-oads,  public  buildings,  manufactories,  cemeteries,  river,  bridges, 
etc.  Characteristic  business,  number  of  inhabitants,  city  defined, 
city  officers.  Map  of  county,  name,  uses  of  lines  and  different 
colors  on  map,  boundaiies,  townships  named  and  located,  towns 
and  villages  named  and  located,  county  seat,  divisions  of  water, 
railroads,  definition  of  county,  area  and  population  given.  Pupils 
should  be  able  to  draw  maps  of  city  and  county,  locating  all  im- 
portant places,  and  spell  all  important  words. 

Writing. — Spencerian  copy-book.  No.  1.  Particular  attention 
should  be  given  to  the  principles  and  the  correct  formation  of  let- 
ters, also  the  position  of  the  body  and  hand.  The  teachers  should 
give  their  undivided  attention  to  the  writing  during  all  the  exercises. 

The  pupil  should  also  write  spelling  and  other  lessons  upon 
slates.  They  should  be  taught  to  make  the  capital  letters  and  the 
use  of  them.    The  slates  sliould  be  often  examined  by  the  teacher. 

Draioing. — Simple  designs. 

General  Lessons. — See  lessons  in  science. 

THIRD  AND  FOURTH  TERMS. 

Heading. — Third  Reader.    Directions  same  as  for  first  term. 

Spelling. — All  words  in  reading,  fifty  words  selected  from  gen- 
eral lessons,  names  of  the  days  of  the  week  and  months,  with 
thorough  reviews  from  the  beginning. 

Number. — Primary  arithmetic.  Finish  multiplication  and  re- 
view. Frequent  reviews  of  plus  and  minus  tables.  Complete 
multiplication  table. 

Oral  Geography. — Review  county  map;  State  map;  scale, 
boundaries,  rivers,  lakes,  railroads,  canals,  cities,  towns  and  capital. 
Shape  of  the  earth  ;  natural  divisions  of  its  surface,  with  definitions 
and  illustrations  of  these  divisions. 


22 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


FOURTH  YEAR  OR  GRADE. 


FIRST  TERM. 

Heading. — Finish  and  review.  Directions  the  same  as  for  first 
term. 

Spelling. — All  words  in  reading  and  fifty  new  words  not  con- 
tained in  reader.  A  thorough  review  should  be  given  of  all  words 
gone  over.    Special  attention  given  to  difficult  words. 

Arithmetic. — Primary  arithmetic  completed  and  thoroughly  re- 
viewed. Pupils  should  do  all  practical  work  neatly  and  with 
accuracy  and  rapidity,  also  recite  tables,  answer  questions  and  an- 
alyze concrete  examples  cleai'Iy  and  promptly. 

Geography. — Elementary  Geography,  Part  II.  Short  lessons 
should  be  given  and  necessary  explanations  made  so  that  they  can 
be  studied  understandingly,  then  require  thorough  preparation. 
The  earnest  teacher  can  make  the  lessons  interesting  and  attractive 
instead  of  so  many  isolated  facts  to  be  remembered.  Pupils  should 
be  able  to  spell  all  important  words,  giving  the  capital  letters  with 
spelling  of  proper  names. 

General  Study. — Position,  description  of  surface,  climate,  peo- 
ple, occupation,  productions,  cities  and  towns,  government. 

Writing. — Copy  Book,  No.  2,  completed.  Pupils  should  be  able 
to  make  all  the  capital  letters  on  the  slate  or  blackboard,  also  lo 
write,  at  dictation,  any  word  in  spelling  and  sentences  containing 
certain  words. 

Dravnng. — Combinations  of  triangles  and  quadrilaterals,  and 
copying  from  objects. 

SECOND  AND  THIRD  TERMS. 

Arithmetic. — In  Division.  Teach  what  is  division.  Notation. 
Terms.    Dividend.    Divisor.    Quotient.  Remainder. 

Principles. the  divisor  is  an  abstract  number  the  quo- 
tient is  same  denomination  as  divisor. 

Ex. — 12  men     -:-  3  =  4  men. 
10  apples  -:-  2=5  apples. 
Application. — 1.    Division  is  the  converse  of  multiplication. 

2.  When  the  product  and  one  factor  are  given,  to  find  the  other 
factor.    Divide  the  product  by  the  other  factor. 

3.  Divide  cost  by  number  of  articles  to  find  cost  of  one. 

4.  Divide  cost  by  cost  of  one* to  find  number  of  articles. 
Short  Dimsion. — When  divisor  is  12  or  less.    Rule.    By  Oat 

right  of  the  divisor.    Proof  :    Dividend  =  divisor  x  quotient. 

FOURTH  TERM. 

Jjong  Division. — When  divisor  exceeds  12.  Show  step  1.  Step 
2.  Step  3.  Step  4.  Divide  by  composite  number.  True  remain- 
der. 

(tIvc  copious  examples,  till  pupil  is  familiar  with  process. 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


23 


FIFTH  YEAR  OR  GRADE. 


FIRST  TERM. 

Fourth  Reader. — All  allusions  explained. 
Writing. — Principles.    Copy-book  No.  3. 

Prime  Numbers.  Composite  Numbers.  Terms.  Principles. 
Problems.    Rule.    Cancellation.    Principles.  Rule. 

Tables  of  denominate  numbers  to  be  thoroughly  learned  and  ap- 
plied : 

1.  Decimal  Measure.  7.    Linear  Measure. 

2.  Federal  Money.  8.    Cloth  Measure. 

3.  Sterling  Money.  9.    Surveyor's  Measure. 

4.  Troy  Weight.  10.    Square  Measure. 

5.  Apothecaries' Weight.       11.    Cubic  Measure. 

6.  Avoirdupois  Weight. 

Liquid  Measure.  Beer  Measure. 

Dry  Measure.  Time  Measure. 

Circular  Measure.  Miscellaneous. 
Paper  Measure.  Collections  of  Units. 

Geography. — First  Book,  completed. 
Language. — Course  on  page  27. 

SECOND  TERM. 

Greatest  Common  Divisor :    Principles.    Examples.  Rule. 

The  greater  by  the  less  divide, 
Tlie  less  by  what  remains  decide, 

'Til  naught  remains : 
That  which  divides  and  leaveth  naught, 
Will  be  the  great  divisor  sought. 

What  factors  enter  into  the  G.  C.  D.?  All  the  prime  factors 
common  to  two  or  more  of  the  numbers. 

Least  Common  Multiple :  Principles.  First.  Second.  Third. 
Fourth.  Fifth. 

When  is  a  number  divisible  by  2? 

When  is  a  number  divisible  by  3? 

When  is  a  number  divisible  by  4? 

When  is  a  number  divisible  by  5? 

When  is  a  number  divisible  by  6? 

When  is  a  number  divisible  by  9? 

What  factors  enter  into  the  L.  C.  M.?  All  their  prime  factors 
and  no  other  factors. 

Rule.    By  steps  first,  second,  third,  fourth,  fifth. 

THIRD  AND  FOURTH  TERMS. 

Fractions. — These  must  be  taught  very  carefully.  Kinds.  No- 
tation. Terms.  Principles.  Reduction.  Addition.  Principles. 
Problems.  Rule. 

Subtraction. — Taught  same  as  addition. 


24 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


Multiplication. — Principles.  Problems.  Rule.  Apply  cancel- 
lation. 

Division  of  Fractions. — Principles.    Problems.  Rule. 

Decimal  Fractions. — Principles.  Terms.  Notation.  Numera- 
tion.   Addition.    Subtraction.    Multiplication.  Division. 

Compound  Denominate  Numbers. — Aliquot  Parts.  Bills.  Finish 
to  Percentage. 


SIXTH  YEAR  OR  GRADE. 


FIRST  AND  SECOND  TERMS. 

Heading. — Fourth  Reader.    All  Biographical,  Historical,  Geo- 
graphical allusions  explained. 
Spell  as  before. 

'Writing. — Principles.    Copy-book,  No.  4. 

Arithmetic, — Metric  System.  Percentage  and  its  application  to 
Ratio. 

Geography. — Second  Book.  Study  Mathematical  Geography 
carefully. 

Language. — Continued. 

THIRD  AND  FOURTH  TERMS. 

Reading. — Fourth,  completed.    Fifth  during  fourth  term. 

Writi?ig. — Principles  and  Copy-book,  No.  5. 
Arithmetic. — Finished  through  Ratio  and  Proportion. 

Geography. — Same  as  before. 

Grammar. — Technical  Grammar  begun. 
Drawing. — Continued. 


SEVENTH  YEAR  OR  GRADE. 


FIRST  AND  SECOND  TERMS. 

1.  Reading. — Fifth  reader,  with  promiscuous  exercises.  Strict 
drill  on  articulation,  rate  and  expression. 

2.  Spelling. — Selected  lists  from  other  branches. 

3.  Arithmetic. — Complete  arithmetic,  with  special  and  thor- 
ough drill  on  the  cases  in  percentage,  ratio  and  proportion. 

4.  Language. — Grammar. 

5.  United  States  History. — U.  S.  History. 

6.  Geography. — Comprehensive  Geography. 
1.    Writing. — Copy-book,  No.  5. 

8.     Vocal  Music. — As  before. 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


25 


THIRD  AND  FOURTH  TERMS. 


1.  Reading. — Fifth  Reader,  with  exercises  as  in  preceding 
terms. 

2.  Spelling.— -YiQ^mw^  and  diacritical  marking  completed  and 
reviewed. 

3.  Arithmetic. — Complete,  with  review  of  cases  in  per  cent., 
and  mental  problems  contained  in  the  work.  Partnership,  bank- 
ruptcy, involution,  evolution,  square  and  cubic  root,  mensuration. 

4.  Language. — Lessons  in  English  composition. 

5.  Geography. — Comprehensive  geography  and  review. 

6.  Physical  Geography. — Physical  (Eclectic.) 

7.  United  States  History. — U.  S.  History  completed. 

8.  Writing. — Copy-book,  No.  6. 

9.  Vocal  Music. — As  before. 


I.  The  organs  of  speech — name,  location,  description  and  func- 
tions of  each. 

II.  Define  orthoepy  and  an  elementary  sound.  Classify  the 
elementary  sounds  of  our  language  into  tonics,  subtonics  and 
atonies. 

III.  Give  the  sounds  and  diacritical^^  marks  of  a,  oral  drill. 
Mark  the  sounds  of  a  in  a  list  of  words  given  by  the  teacher. 

IV.  The  sounds  and  diacritical  marks  of  e  and  i.  Oral  drill, 
a-nd  list  of  words  to  be  marked. 

V.  ^Phe  sounds  and  diacritical  marks  of  o  and  oo.  Oral  drill 
and  words  marked. 

VI.  The  sounds  and  diacritical  marks  of  u  and  y.  Dipthongal 
sounds.    Oral  drill  and  list  of  words  to  be  marked. 

VII.  Written  lesson  of  twenty  words,  vowels  marked. 

VIII.  Make  a  table  illustrating  the  vowel  sounds  of  our  lan- 
guage.   Oral  drill  on  the  table. 

IX.  All  other  sounds  (those  represented  by  consonants)  classi- 
fied as  sub  vocals  or  subtonics,  and  aspirates  and  atonies,  with  the 
notation  of  each  sound.    Oral  drill  and  list  of  words  to  be  marked. 

X.  The  cognate  consonant  sounds  of  our  language  and  their 
notation. 


STUDY. 


ORTHOEPY  AND  ORTHOGRAPHY. 


Note.— From  III.  lo  X.,  inclusive,  should  be  prepared  by  each  member  and  re- 
viewed by  instructor. 


CALIFORNIA  PUHLIC  SCHOOLS. 


XI.  Classification  of  words  based  on  (a)  tlieir  formation,  (/;) 
the  number  of  syllables  of  whicli  tliey  are  composed.  Accent. 
Require; nurnerous  illustrations  of  each.,  " 

XII.  Orthograpliic  parsing  of  the  following  words,  both  oral 
and  wi-itten  :  .jStraighty finance^  compromise^  concert^  exaggerate^  in- 
dissoluble^ or  others.  "  , 

Model.— Man  is  a  simple,  primitive  monosyllable.  Spelled  ortliographically 
(naming  the  letters),  m-a-n,  and  phonically  (enunciating  the  sound),  m-a-n— m  is  a  con- 
sonant, sub-vocal,  labial;  a  is  a  short  vowel  sound;  ?t  is  a  consonant,  sub-vocal,  palata- 
nasal. 

XIII.  Rule  for  dropping  final  e  when  adding  a  suffix.  Rule 

for  doubling  final  consonants.    Rule  for  final  y. 

Note;.— In  XIII.  three  divisions  should  be  made  of  the  class  on  the  preceding  day, 
each  division  to  prepare  numerous  illustrations  of  one  of  the  rules  involved, 

XIV.  Define  the  terms  ror>^,  prefix  and  suffix,  as  applied  to 
words.  Bring  to  the  class  a  list  of  words  from  which  to  show  the 
meaning  of  at  least  ten  prefixes  in  common  use. 

XV.  Bring  to  the  class  a  list  of  words  from  which  to  show  the 
meaning  of  at  least  ten  suftixes. 

XVI.  Analyze  the  following  words,  giving  the  root,  prefix  and 
suflftx  of  each,  and  the  meaning  of  each  part:  Amiable^  emanate, 
superficially,  intermit,  conversation,  purity  and  remittance. 

XVII.  An  exercise  in  spelling  a  list  of  twenty  words.  The 
diacritical  marks  of  ten  of  these  words  to  be  given.  Papers  ex- 
changed and  marked.   ^  

Note.— XVII.  may  be  used  as  an  illustration  of  one  method  of  teaching  orthoepy 
and  orthography  to  pupils  in  actual  school  work.  , 

XVIII.  Lesson  upon  use  of  dictionaries. 

XIX.  Illustrative  spelling  lesson  by  teacher. 

READING.  * 

I.  Position  and  carriage  of  the  body.  Sitting:  Management 
of  the  body,  the  feet,  hands,  head  and  eyes  ;  exercises  in  changing 
position.  Standing :  Two  primary  positions  ;  study  each  care- 
fully. Exercises  in  taking  these  positions  and  changing  fi-om  one 
to  the  othei-,  by  individual  members  of  the  class,  and  by  the  entire 
class  in  concei  t. 

II.  Class  drill  in  taking  and  changing  position  ;  movements  of 
the  body  for  exercise;  manner  of  taking  position  upon  and  leaving 
the  rostrum  and  of  holding  the  book.  Different  members  of  the  class 
should  be  required  to  take  a  correct  position  ;  criticism  by  teacher 
and  students. 

III.  Class  drill  and  exercises  in  breathing.  Management  of  the 
lungs. 

IV.  Drill  in  vocalization.  Note  the  change  of  position  of  the 
organs  of  speech  in  the  production  of  dilfeient  tones. 

V.  Review.    Drill  in  position,  breathing  and  vocalization. 

VI.  Articulation.  Note  the  most  common  errors,  illustrating 
with  examples.  Give  the  rules  for  pronouncing  a.,  an,  the,  r  and 
u.  Select  for  study,  with  special  reference  to  articulation,  a  lesson, 
for  the  next  recitation. 


VII.  Shoijt  c>lass  drill  in  position,  bimthing^  and  the  articula- 
tion of  difEciiJit  Qonsonant  eomblyatioris.  ^Jiecitation  of  the  lessojj 
assigned  the  previous  day.    Criticism  by  teacher  and  students.  ^ 

Ynj.  Emphasis.  Outline^  the  differeiBt  kinds  of  emphasis,  de- 
fining and  giving  numerous  examples  of  aach,^^  f 9  r, 
stu,dy>-   ■   ,                  ■             :             .-i  '/v  . 

IX.  Recitation  of  lessons  assigned  the  previous' day.  Require 
each  member  of .  the  class  to  give  illustrations  of  dijfferent  kinds  of 
emphasis.  .  '       ,  \  -  r?; 

,  :  X>  Analyzi^  t^he 'prOif  uetiop ,  to  be  read,  showing  -  1st,  object 
of  the  production  or  why  written  ;  2d,  the-aj-gument  or  the  means 
used  to  accomplish  the  object. 

.    XI.  ^;  I^iflec,t|on.  ,Pitch[  Kinds  of  each.   Illustrate  by  examples. 

XII.  Force.    Rate.    Kinds  and  examples  of  each. 

XIII.  Quality-— how  divided;  Give  examples  showing  the  styles 
of  composition' to  which  each  is  adapted,  , 

XIV.  Gfestures.  Significance  of  different  gestures.  Members 
of  the  class  to  bring  selectibus  for  the  purpose  of  illustration. 

XV.  Revie^Y  of  the  week's  woi'k. 

XVI.  Kind  and  amount  of  work  to  be  given  to  class  while  in 
the  first  reader;  rate  of  progress ;  sentence-making  from  pictures ; 
copying  on  slate  and  blackboard  ;  tests  which  should  govern  pro- 
motion, etb:'-^"'      i  -  ■    .     '  ■ '-iijvur:':  „  ,  .  ■ 

XVII.  Qualifications  necessary  to  enter  second  reader.  Third 
reader.  Kind  and  amount  of  preparation  for  class  exercises  in 
each.    Object  sought  in-  each. 

XVIII.  Discuss  fourth  reader,  and  fifth  reader  after  the  out- 
line given  in  XVIL; 

XIX.  Each  member  of  the  class  to  present  an  outlin*  of  what 
he  thinks  shc^uld  be  studied  in  preparing, a  lesson  in  advanced  read- 
ing.   Discussion  of  outline;,  ;  . 

PENMANSHIP. 

I.  1st.  Materials:  Paper,  pens,  ink,  etc.  2d.  Position: 
Body,  hands,  fingers,  feet. 

II.  1st.  Movement  exercises :  Finger,  forearm,  whole  arm 
movement  explained.  2d.  Slants:  First,  second  and  third  prin- 
ciple's with  first  group  of  small  letters,  ^,  u,  w. 

III.  2d  group  :    Principles,  formation  and  analysis  of  71^  m,  v. 

IV.  Ist.  Formation  and  analysis  of  o,  a,  e,  c.  2d.  Forma- 
tion and  analysis  of  r,  s. 

V.  Formation,  analysis  and  shading  of  t,  d,  q.  Review  of 
term's  work. 

VI.  (a)  Fourth  principle.  (5)  Fourth  principle  letters  ascend- 
ing in  groups  of  similar  construction,  ^,  b,  h,  k. 

VII.  Fourth  principle  letters  in  groups  of  similar  construction 
descending,  j,  y,     z,  and  combined  ss. 

VIII.  Class  drill  in  writing  letters  already  analyzed,  and  mak- 
ing different  combinations  of  the  same. 


28 


CA-LTFOtlNIA.  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


,  IX.  [a)  Arabic  figures.  Analysis  and  formation  in  groups  of 
similar  construction,  (d)  Class  drill  in  writing  combinations  of 
Arabic  figures. 

X.  (a)  Fifth  principle:  Analysis  of  0^  C.  {h)  Class 
drill  in  writing  combinations  of  the  first  five  principles. 

XI.  Sixth  principle :  Analysis  of  and  class  drill  in  forming 
X,  Tf,      U,  F,  Fande/: 

XII.  Seventh  principle.  Analysis  of  arid  class  drill  in  form- 
ing A.  JV,  M,  1\  F. 

XriL    Analysis  and  formation  Of  S,      L.    Class  drill. 

XIV.  Analysis  and  writing  J5,  It.  Class  drill  in  writing 
ledger  headings. 

XV.  Correspondence ;  Epistolary  and  business  forms,  subscrip- 
tions, titles. 

XVI.  (d)  Shading  emphasized,    {b)  Review  capitals. 

XVII.  Thorough  review  of  principles. 

XVIII.  Examination  in  penmanship  on  questions  prepared  by 
instructor. 

XIX.  Consideration  of  questions  from  members  of  the  class. 

GEOGRAPHY. 

Eclectic  :    Intermediate  drill  fully  on  Missouri  special. 


LANGUAGE. 

Ihird  Year  or  Grade. 

First  jQ,uarter. — 1.  Teach  pupils  to  commence  sentences  with 
c^j)ital  letters. 

2.    Coliimence  particular  tiames  with  capital  letters. 

8eco7id  Quarter. — 1.  Use  of  period  and  interrogation  point  at 
end  of  sentence. 

2.    Use  of  capitals  as  applied  to  pronouns. 

Third  Quarter. — 1.    Use  of  comma  separating  series. 

2.    Names  of  days  and  months — use  of  capitals. 

Fourth  Quarter. — 1.    Use  of  capitals  in  stanzas  of  poetry. 

2.  Letter  writing,  heading  of  lettei'S,  etc. 

3.  Lead  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  the  use  of  nouns  as 
subjects  in  both  singular  and  plural  forms.  Only  nouns  whose 
plural  forms  are  regularly  made  should  be  used,  as  :  The  horse  runs. 
Horses  run.    The  girl  plays.    Girls  play. 

False  syntax.  Do  not  try  to  teach  pupils  reasons  for  cor- 
rections of  errors  ;  leave  that  to  a  higher  grade. 

4.  Lead  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  correct  use  of  a  and 

an. 

Fourth  Year  or  Grade. 

First  Quarter. — 1.    Use  of  capitals. 

iMtioa       j     connection  with  proper  nouns.   General  Grant. 
xiuet>.       ^  When  used  alone.  The  Queen  then  read. 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS; 


29 


2.  Names  of  Deity. 

3.  Uses  of  the  hyphen. 

4.  Exclamation  point  after  an  exclamatory  word. 

5.  Sentence  building — words  to  be  written  on  blackboard — 
pupils  required  to  add  such  words  as  will  make  an  intelligible 
statement. 

Essential  elements  of  sentence.       i  Subject. 

1  Predicate. 

(  a.  Use  of  capitals. 
Second  Quarter —1.  Direct  quotation.  <  h.   Precede  by  comma. 

(  c.   Quotation  marks. 

2.  Lead  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  the  use  of  ordinary 
qualifying  adjectives. 

Simple  sentences.  Pupils  required  to  select  logical  subjects  and 
predicate.  Sentences  gradually  enlarged  and  special  drill  con- 
tinued. 

Avoid  use  of  verb,  "to  be,"  in  any  of  its  forms  through  this 
grade. 

4.    Subscription  of  envelopes — simple  business  forms. 
IViird  Quarter. — Analysis. 

1.  Principal  elements — subject  and  predicate.  Subordinate 
elements^ — modifiers. 

2.  Teach  pupils  to  select  modifiers  of  subject  arid  predicate 
without  i'eferehce  to  parts  of  speech — logical  relation. 

3.  Use  of  capitals.    First  words,  title  of  books,  headings,  etc. 

4.  Dash — omission. 

5.  Lead  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  the  use  of  verbs 
agreeing  with  /,  he,  she  and  it,  as  subjects. 

Fourth  Quarter. — Analysis. 

1    Subiect      i  Nouns.  Classes.   Proper  and  common. 
I  Pronouns. 

2.  Predicate — verb. 

3.  Modifiers  of  subject. 

4.  Modifiers  of  predicate. 

5.  Dash — changed  construction. 

6.  Introduce  diagramming  in  some  one  of  its  forms. 

(  a.   Mary,  come  here. 

7.  Use  of  comma— direct  address.    <  b.  Come  here,  Mary. 

/  c.   Will  you,  Mary,  come  here? 

8.  Lead  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  the  use  of  adjec- 
tives whose  forms  are  changed  regularly. 

9.  Reproduction  from  memory  of  short,  interesting  narrations  ; 
continue  through  next  grade. 

10.  Special  drill  on  letter  writing  through  this  grade. 

Fifth  Year  or  Grade. 

First  Quarter. — 1.  Analysis  of  sentences  (simple)  without  re- 
gard to  formal  gi-ammar. 

2.  Inverted  sentences  introduced.  Elements  and  .modifiers  to 
be  selected  as  before. 

3.  Diagramming  continued. 


so 


CALIFOliNIA   PUJJLIC  SCHOOLS. 


4.  Use  of  comma,  with  reference  to  phrases  and  words  used 
parentlietically. 

5.  Words  or  phrases  "in  pairs." 

G.    Apostrophe.    Marks  of  reference.  !       ;  ' 

7.  Lead  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  the  use  of  the; 
forms  of  adverbs  whose  forms  are  changed  regularly. 

8.  Lead  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  the  use  of  ad- 
jectives whose  forms  are  irregularly  changed. 

Second  Quarter. — Analysis  continued. 

1.  False  syntax.  Correction  of  common  errors  of  speech;  con- 
tinue through  the  course.  '  , 

2.  Lead  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  the  use  of  adjectives 
in  the  different  forms,  and  then  have  them  use  the  same  WO'i'ds 
changed  to  adverbs  in  the  different  forins.  - 

3.  liCad  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  the  use  of  this,  that, 
these  and  those.    Special  drill'on  the  correct  use  of  these  pronouns. 

4.  Capitalization. 

5.  Words  derived  from  proper  nouns. 

6.  Parenthesis. 

Third  Quarter. — 1.    Parts  of  speech.'  .  ' 

Noun,  pronoun,  adjective,  verb,  adverb,  preposition,  interjection, 
conjunction.  Explain  significance  of  names,  and  teach  pupils  to 
apply  terms  to  elements  of  sentences. 

3.  (pi)  Use  of  period  after  titles,  headings,  etc. 
{h)    Use  of  period  after  abbreviations. 

(c)    Brackets.  "  , 

4.  Lead  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  the  use  of  adverbs 
of  negation.    Correct  the  use, of  double  negations. 

5.  Lead  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  the  use  of  connec- 
tives ;  either,  or  ;  neither,  nor.  - 

6.  Lead  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  the  use  of  adverbs 
for  which  they  sometimes  use  adjectives,  and  vice  versa. 

1.  Lead  the  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  the  use  of  rela- 
tive and  interrogative  pronouns. 

(a)  As  objects. 

(b)  As  adjectives  (possessive  form.) 

(c)  As  subjects. 

Nouns  in  apposition — use  of  comma. 

8.  Short  compositions.  Have  pupils  write  from  memory  stories 
which  they  have  read — read  a  short  story  and  have  pupils  write 
what  they  can  remember  of  it.  Encourage  pupils  to  write  descrip- 
tions of  places  they  have  visited. 

Special  di-ill  on  this  exercise.  Continue  through  first  half  of 
next  grade. 

Capitalization — names  of  objects  personified. 
Fourth  Quarter. — 1.    In  capitalization  and  punctuation  review 
previous  work. 

2.  Lead  pupils  to  form  sentences  involving  the  use  of  as  and 
like;  and  and  hut;  irregular  verbs,  principal  parts  of  most  common 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


3-1 


verbs  taught;  choose,  do,  drink,  fly,  lie,  see,  sing,  speak,  write,  take, 
tear: 

Teach  pupils  to  transform  poetry  to  prose;  avoid  didactic 
poems. 

Use  only  simple  sentences  in  this  grade — adjuncts  and  infini- 
tives. Omit  direct  and  indirect  object,  etc.  Teach  prepositions 
and  conjunctions  as  "  connectives." 

Sixth  Year  or  Grade. 

First  Quarter. — Vickroy's  grammar.  Write  lettei-s  oi-dering 
goods;  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  letter;  acknowledging 
receipt  of  the  goods.  Drill  upon  common  business  forms,  notes, 
-bills,  receipts,  etc. 

Second  Quarter. — Continue  letter  writing — composition,  out- 
lining points  "to  be  brought  up,  their  relative  importance,  etc. 

Third  Quctrter.  —Uiwe  pupils  copy  the  different  forms  of  notes, 
and  also  superscription  of  eiivelopes  ;  and  after  the  teclmical  terms 
are  well  Understood,  let  each  pupil  compose  and  |)resent  a  note  or 
letter  of  his  own  in  illustration  of  each  form.  Use  National  Com- 
plete Composition  Book  as  a  guide. 

Fourth  Quarter. — Analysis.  Vickroy's  grammar.  Review  of 
preceding  work  in  letter  writing,  comi^osition,  punctuation  and 
capitalization. 

Seventh  Year  or  Grade. 
First  Quarter. — Analysis. 

Second  Quarter. — Analysis.    False  syntax.    Reasons   for  cor- 
rection.   Take  additional,  at  discretion  of  teacher. 
Third  Quarter. — Analysis.    Take  additional. 
Fourth  Quarter. — Review. 

LANGUAGE. 

I.  All  lessons  should  be  language  lessons.  : 

II.  Teach  pupils  to  construct  correct  sentences  every  lesson 
they  recite. 

Seventh  Year  or  Grade. 

I.  Discuss  errors  arising  from  improper  use  of  verb  forms. 
{a)  Write  sentences  containing  the  past  tenses,  and  others  the  past 
participles,  of  rtm,  lay^  see.,  do.,  lie,  draw,  know  and  climb,  (b) 
Make  a  table  of  the  principal  parts  of  twenty-five  of  the  most 
commonly  used  irregular  verbs. 

II.  Discuss  relation  of  (a)  transitive  and  intransitive  verbs, 
(compare  lay  and  lie,  set  and  sit;)  (b)  active  and  passive,  how 
formed  ;  (c)  the  verb  be  to  the  formation  of  voice  and  te7ise.  Class 
to  bring  synopsis  of  passive  verbs,  or  complete  conjugation  of  some 
mood  or  moods  of  several  verbs,  as  the  instructor  may  appoint. 


^2 


CALIFORNIA^  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


III.  Distinction  of  syntax  and  etymology.  Define  and  illus- 
trate root  words  and  derivatives.  What  is  inflection  ?  Find  short 
definitions  to  justify  the  following  grouping  of  the  parts  of  speech  : 
€.  g.    Articles  point  out  nouns. 

Nouns.  Verbs. 
Pronouns., 

Adjectives  Adverbs, 

Prepositions, 
Articles, 


Conjunctions, 
iKterjections. 

SPELLING. 

To  teacher. — 1.  As  spelling  is  only  used  in  writing  or  print- 
ing, it  follows  that  the  drill  in  spelling  should  consist  almost  en- 
tirely of  writing  the  words. 

Every  lesson  that  requires  writing  by  the  pupil  is  necessarily  an 
exercise  in  spelling. 

2.  Introduce  rules  for  spelling.  Prefixes  and  afiixes,  synonyms, 
abbreviations  and  dropping  or  retaining  certain  letters,  according 
to  Webster's  dictionary. 

3.  Spell  from  all  lessons  in  your  grades.  Readers,  arithmetic, 
geography,  etc. 

HISTORY. 

Seventh  Year  or  Grade. 

First  Quarter. — 1.  Discoveries — Northmen,  Columbus,  Cabot, 
Vespucius,  Cortez,  De  Soto,  De  Leon,  Cartier,  Drake. 

2.  Colonial  history — brief  rxccount  of  settlement  of  Jamestown, 
Plymouth,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland. 

Noted  names — Smith,  Hudson,  Winthrop,  Williams,  King 
Philip,  Dongan,  Penn,  Marquette,  Braddock,  Washington,  Wolfe, 
Franklin,  Peter  the  Great, Marlborough,  Frederick  the  Great,  New- 
ton. 

Second  Quarter. — Noted  names — Stuyvesant,  Calvert,  Shake- 
speare, Richelieu,  Luther,  Michael  Angelo,  Loyola. 

New  York  under  Dutch  and  English  ;  Rhode  Island  ;  Mary- 
land ;  Pennsylvania;  condition  at  close  of  period. 

Third  Quarter  —Noted  names — Pitt,  Burke,  Washington,  Jef- 
ferson, Lafayette,  Paul  Jones,  Lord  Clive. 

From  Washington's  administration  on,  lessons  to  be  read  from 
book.    Keep  in  view  contemporary  European  history. 

Main  points  of  constitution  studied.  Preamble — qualifications  of 
Senators,  Representatives  and  President.  These  officers,  how 
chosen  ?  How  bills  become  laws — powers  of  Congress — Republi- 
can government  guaranteed  to  States — freedom  in  religion — speech, 
press. 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


33 


GENERAL  REMARKS. 

Arithmetic — Teach  processes  before  rules — the  generalizations 
will  come  afterwards.  When  a  pupil  ha,s  an  incorrect  solution 
have  him  explain  his  work — do  not  interrupt  him  at  the  point  when 
his  error  is  made,  but  let  him  finish  and  then  have  some  pupil  point 
out  the  error  and  why.  In  this  way  much  of  the  timidity  of  back- 
ward pupils  may  be  conquered. 

The  essentials  of  previous  work  should  be  constantly  kept  be- 
fore the  pupil — the  work  of  no  single  grade  can  stand  alone  ;  it 
should  be  interwoven  with  and  is  dependent  upon  previous  work. 
Too  much  drill  cannot  be  given  to  decimal  and  common  fractions. 
They  are  the  keys  which  unlock  what  follows.  Accuracy  and  ra- 
pidity in  the  mechanical  work  must  be  acquired  before  much 
progress  can  be  made  in  their  applications. 

It  should  never  be  forgotten  that  it  is  largely  skill,  dexterity, 
which  should  be  cultivated  in  this  study. 

Many  things  must  be  learned  practically  long  before  they  can  be 
understood. 

In  teaching  notation,  use  the  period  method,  paying  little 
attention  to  the  subordinate  classification.  In  addition  and  sub- 
traction use  pure  mechanics — that  is,  in  adding  3+4+2+4+3=16, 
teach  children  to  write  right-hand  figure  under  the  column  just 
added,  and  add  t\iQ  left-hand  ^g^mQ  to  the  next  column,  etc.;  apply 
similar  methods  to  other  elementary  operations  ;  pay  special  atten- 
tion to  the  how  and  very  little  to  the  why  in  the  first,  second,  third 
and  fourth  gi-ades. 

When  the  text  book  is  taken  up,  teach  pupils  how  to  study — 
have  them  read  over  their  lessons  until  they  understand  the  tech- 
nical terms.  Teach  pupils  to  commence  work  systematically ;  have 
pupils  give  simple  analysis  of  work. 

Firsts  what  is  required. 

Second^  first  step  in  operation,  etc.,  without  regard  to  numeri- 
cal work.  Make  each  lesson  a  review  of  preceding  work.  Arrange 
a  series  of  examples  covering  principles  heretofore  learned,  and 
give  them  to  the  class  until  pupils  become  self-reliant.  In  arrang- 
ing examples,  see  that  the  meclianical  work  is  of  such  a  description 
as  not  to  engage  the  attention  of  the  pupil  to  the  extent  of  causing 
him  to  lose  sight  of  the  principle  involved  in  the  solution  of 
problem,  ^,  e.,  (45-:-2|)-:-(^x^)  would  be  a  good  example  for  work 
in  class,  but  (l24iV:-24j?)-:-(37-:-iy  would  be  entirely  out  of  place. 
Five  examples  worked  in  ten  minutes  will  secure  better  results  than 
two  examples  worked  in  same  time.  In  fractions  given  for  class 
work,  use  for  denominators  thirds,  fourths,  fifths,  sixths,  eights, 
tenths,  twelfths;  never  give  improbable  examples,  they  involve 
the  unnecessary  expenditure  of  much  time  and  trouble.  Each 
teacher  is  responsible,  not  only  for  work  in  her  grade,  but  also  for 
all  that  pupils  have  learned  before. 

Grammar.  -  Special  pains  should  be  taken  to  carry  out  work  as 
indicated  in  course. 


34 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


It  is  necessary  that  teachers  sliould  do  this  work  with  exceeding 
care,  especially  that  portion  of  it  which  falls  under  the  liead 
of  language  lessons.  In  teclinical  grammar  the  course  should  be 
strictly  followed,  and  only  upon  special  permission  should  a  teacher 
attempt  to  cai-ry  her  class  over  any  work  in  advance  of  her  grade. 

Tlie  sentences  for  analysis  in  the  fifth  grade  should  be  carefully 
selected  before  the  recitation. 

The  weekly  examinations  may  be  used  with  advantage  to  carry 
out  ideas  of  teacher. 

It  is  believed  that  the  radical  change  in  the  method  of  teaching 
grammar  has  been  of  great  advantage.  The  testimony  of  the  most 
of  the  teachers  is  to  the  effect  that  it  has  aroused  a  degree  of  in- 
terest, and  in  many  instances  enthusiasm  quite  in  contrast  to  the 
condition  of  affairs  in  the  past.  It  needs  the  continued  care  and 
unremitting  attention  of  teachers,  however,  to  keep  up  this  interest 
and  avoid  the  mistakes  so  prominent  heretofore. 

In  language  work  imitation  pr  cedes  originality.  The  work 
arranged  for  third,  fourth  and  fifth  grades  should  be  developed. 
The  use  of  capitals,  punctuation  marks,  etc.,  must  be  evolved  from 
the  sentences  given. 

In  composition  work,  copying  from  reader,  copying  sentences 
from  the  board,  inventing  short  sentences,  copying  short  stories 
written  on  the  board  by  teacher,  the  reproduction  in  writing  of 
stories  told  to  pupils  in  the  past,  the  reproduction  of  short  stories 
told  by  the  teacher,  should  be  the  order  of  presentation. 

In  dictation  work,  dictate  from  interesting  narrative  ;  have 
pupils  correct  each  other's  work  and  then  correct  and  re-write  the 
amended  exercises. 

Letter  writing  in  its  various  forms  should  be  carefully  taught. 
In  writing  social  letters  have  pupils  follow  as  nearly  as  possible  the 
following  order  :  "  Write  of  your  correspondent;  all  tilings  relat- 
ing to  him  ;  write  of  general  topics  of  mutual  interest ;  write  of 
yourself  as  .  briefly  as  possible."  In  writing  business  letters,  lay 
much  stress  on  brevity  and  clearness.  The  memory  work  given 
will  afford  ample  opportunities  for  transforming  poetry  into  prose. 

Geography. — Every  effort  should  be  made  to  prevent  the  study 
of  this  branch  from  degenerating  into  a  mere  routine. 

The  river  which  flows  by  our  door  ;  the  lines  of  railway  which 
center  here  and  by  which  we  are  connected  with  the  outside  world; 
the  telegraph  with  its  far  reaching  wires;  the  dispatches  in  the 
morning  papers ;  the  various  articles  of  food  and  dress  familiar  to 
pupils,  should  be  made  to  contribute  to  the  daily  lesson.  Stimulate 
the  interests  of  pupils  in  this  manner  and  the  problem  is  solved. 

Geography  is  a  description  of  the  living  world  with  its  animals 
and  vegetable  and  mineral  products,  its  lines  of  travel,  the  vast 
avenues  along  which  the  products  of  different  sections  are  sent  to 
be  exchanged  for  those  of  otleer  sections. 

Seize  upon  a  few  important  points  and  dwell  upon  them  to  the 
exclusion  of  details;  the  distance  of  our  city  from  Holden  is  of 
little  moment,  but  the  gap  which  yawns  between  us  and  ChicagOj, 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


35 


St.  Louis  and  New  York  determines  virtually  the  price  of  every 
article  we  sell  and  of  everything  we  buy,  hence  our  relations  with 
these  cities  are  much  more  important. 

In  teaching  this  branch  aim  to  give  a  general  rather  than  special 
knowledge;  each  lesson  should  be  a  review  of  previous  work,  that 
is,  a  topical  review  ;  teach  pupils  to  generalize  both  rapidly  and 
accurately. 

The  ideas  of  the  political  and  social  bearing  of  each  place  upon 
the  country  at  large  should  be  largely  dwelt  upon.  Show  that  the 
channels  of  trade  are  fixed,  and  endeavor  to  have  pupils  under- 
stand the  relation  which  exisi^s  between  the  different  parts  of  our 
country  and  other  countries. 

As  the  pupils  advance,  dwell  continually  upon  the  questions  : 
Of  what  value  is  this  to  man?  How  are  we  related  to  this?  What 
influeuce  has  this  fact  upon  that? 

Reading. — Special  attention  to  articulation  and  expression— in 
lower  grades  teach  children  expression  by  iniitation — show  them 
how  to  study  a  reading  lesson  ;  avoid  the  too  common  error  of 
r  making  a  reading  lesson  either  a  lesson  in  language  or  spelling. 
Pay  special  attention  to  position  of  pupil  while  reading — correct  all 
awkward  and  ungainly  habits. 

The  teaching  of  reading,  it  has  been  said,  involves  two  distinct 
processes.  The  object  of  one  of  these  processes  is  to  so  train  the 
voice  that  it  may  convey  to  others  an  intelligent  and  adequate  com- 
prehension of  the  subject  matter  gone  over.  The  object  of  the 
other  is  to  so  train  the  mind  that  it  may  be  able  to  comprehend  an 
author's  meaning.  The  first  process  should  be  the  end  most  sought 
after  in  the  first,  second  and  third  grades.  Also  question  pupils 
upon  the  subject  matter  of  each  lesson — see  that  they  understand 
the  thought — require  pupils  to  give  synonyms  for  words  in  lesson 
— confine  this  exercise  for  a  long  time  to  simple  words.  This  sort 
of  drill  is  much  better  than  to  require  a  definition,  because  it  shows 
conclusively  that  the  pupil  knows  the  value  of  the  term,  which  is 
much  better  for  him  than  to  "be  able  to  give  a  neat  definition. 

A  test  of  school  i-eading  is  to  read  a  selection  correspondingly 
graded  to  school  work  and  adapted  to  comprehension  of  pupils  at 
sight,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  convey  the  thought  of  another  to  the 
listener.  The  mechanical  part  of  reading,  enunciation,  inflection, 
etc.,  must  be  drilled  upon  continually. 

Encourage  pupils  to  read  from  story  books,  magazines,  etc.,  in 
order  to  cultivate  reading  at  sight. 

In  the  upper  grades  train  pupils  to  lift  the  eyes  from  the  books 
and  look  at  class.  To  do  this  well  the  eyes  must  anticipate  the 
voice. 

The  second  process  must  be  the  one  most  sought  after  in  the 
upper  grades.  In  the  upper  grades  pupils  should  read  and  ^be 
drilled  upon  such  selections  as  are  classic,  and  thus  imbibe,  as  it 
were,  almost  insensibly  a  taste  for  literature;  such  a  taste  is  the 
basis  of  all  culture. 


36 


CALIFOKNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


Spelling. — In  the  lower  grades  drill  upon  all  words  coming  up 
in  Llieir  daily  lessons. 

In  the  fifth  grade  commence  to  teach  children  to  spell  and  trace 
the  form  of  primitive  words  thi'ough  their  respective  compounds, 
i.  e.,  peace,  peaceful,  peaceable,  peaceably,  etc.  This  may  be  so 
handled  as  to  prove  quite  an  interesting  exercise.  The  force  of  the 
various  sufKxes  and  prefixes  should  be  taught  in  the  sixth  grade.  A 
little  drill  upon  the  effect  and  meaning  of  such  syllables  as  non^  ir, 
i7i,un,  dis,  etc.,  will  go  far  to  tighten  the  grasp  of  pupils  upon  the 
language,  and  at  the  same  time  vary  the  monotony  so  distasteful  in 
the  teaching  of  this  branch. 

The  teaching  of  spelling  cannot  be  taught  successfully  by  the 
exclusive  use  of  either  the  oral  or  non-oral  method.  Both  should 
be  used  ;  in  the  upper  grades  the  words  wi-itten  during  the  week 
should  be  spelled  orally  by  the  class  at  some  stated  time.  This 
will  correct  the  one-sided  tendencies  of  the  other  method,  and  at  the 
same  time  enable  the  teacher  to  cover  more  ground. 

Writing. — The  course  should  be  carefully  adhered  to,  and 
great  strci^s  laid  upon  proper  position  of  both  pen  and  body.  In 
slate  writing  do  not  allow  pupils  to  write  with  a  short  pencil,  and 
insist  in  all  their  work,  upon  the  pencil  being  held  in  the  same  po- 
sition as  the  pen.  If  this  is  taught  in  lower  grades,  when  the 
Tracing  Book  is  taken  up  the  teacher  will  be  at  liberty  to  devote 
her  attention  to  the  proper  use  of  ]^en  and  correct  movement. 

Except  in  rare  cases  pupils  should  write  across  the  page  instead 
of  down  the  column.  All  civilized  people  write  across  the  page, 
and  we  cannot  afford  to  go  back  to  the  half-civilized  races  for 
methods.  The  arguments  in  favor  of  column  writing  are  based 
upon  fallacious  grounds,  and  the  practice  rarely  fails  to  entail  upon 
children  a  cramped  and  ungainly  style. 

The  charts,  now  in  the  hands  of  every  teacher,  should  be  con- 
stantly referred  to,  and  all  disturbing  influences  in  the  shape  of 
letters  in  fanciful  shapes,  backhand,  etc.,  should  be  kept  in  the 
background. 

Punctuation  and  Definitions. — Teach  pupils  the  constant 
use  of  the  dictionary. 

History. — Discoveries — prominent  navigators,  English,  Spanish, 
French ;  the  search  after  the  northwest  passage.  Exploring  expe- 
ditions— De  Soto,  Maj  quette,  La  Salle,  Cortez,  Pizaro.  The  Abor- 
igines— general  traits  of  character,  worship,  warfare,  use  of 
implements,  etc. 

Discuss  the  general  bearing  of  the  French,  English  and  Spanish 
settlements  on  the  well  being  of  the  country.  Trace  the  growth 
of  the  different  settlements,  the  cause  of  the  Indian  and  Colonial 
wars,  causes  of  the  war  of  the  revolution.  Dwell  upon  the  strate- 
getical  points,  showing  the  importance  of  the  possession  of  points 
commanding  lines  of  trade,  etc. 

Trace  the  growth  of  the  principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty, 
the  freedom  of  the  press  ;  the  right  to  assemble  and  petition  for  a 
redress  of  grievances. 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS.  3*7 


Avoid  parrot-like  recitations  in  the  language  of  the  text-book, 
and  teach  pupils  to  sift  the  statements  in  the  lesson,  and  seize  hold 
of  the  important  points. 

I  am  under  obligations  to  many  co-laborers  for  valuable  sug- 
gestions. F.  W.  PARSONS,  Superintendent. 


HIGH  SCHOOL  DEPARTMENT. 

The  studies  of  the  High  School  shall  occupy  four  years,  and 
shall  constitute  a  general  and  a  classical  course.  The  classical 
course  shall  include  the  studies  required  for  admission  to  the  best 
American  college,  and  may  be  continued  by  longer  attendance 
through  all  the  studies  requisite  for  a  good,  classical  education. 
The  general  course  shall  embrace  the  higher  mathematics  ;  the 
Latin  language  so  far  as  is  possible  and  desirable  for  general  cul- 
ture, for  more  thorough  acquaintance  with  general  grammar  and 
with  our  own  language  ;  and  such  studies  in  science  and  literature 
as  shall  best  fit  the  pupils  for  different  departments  of  business, 
and  make  them  generally  intelligent. 

The  course  of  study  prescribed  for  this  department,  and  time 
for  accomplishing  the  same,  are  certainly  comprehensive  enough. 

It  is  not  proposed  that  this  school  shall  take  the  place  of  a  col- 
lege, but  that  it  shall  do  what  is  generally  done  in  the  High 
Schools  and  Academies  of  the  country,  i.  e.:  prepare  pupils  for  the 
higher  walks  of  learning  and  practical  business  life. 

To  enter,  pupils  are  required  to  pass  an  examination  in  the 
English  branches. 


38 


CALIFOIINIA.  PUIiLlC  SCHOOLS. 


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CALIFORNIA  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


39 


Pupils  who  graduate  with  honor  and  evidence  an  ability  to  teach 
will  have  the  preference  for  positions  in  our  city  schools, 

A  fitting  opportunity  is  offered  such,  during  their  course  of 
study,  of  becoming  thoroughly  familiar  with  all  the'minutise  of 
graded  school-room  work  ;  and  also  the  practice  as  exhibited  by 
our  best  teachers  who  have  had  thorough  training. 

Such  an  incentive  should  add  fresh  zeal  and  energy  to  the  work 
in  the  high  school. 

SCHOOL  OF  LATIN. 

Jones*  First  Lessons  in  Latin  Exercises  in  Latin.  Prose  Compo- 
sition. Grammar  and  Caesar's  Commentaries  and  Virgil — three 
books. 

SCHOOL  OF  MATHEMATICS. 

Complete  Arithmetic,  Algebra,  Geometry,  Trigonometry  and 
Surveying. 

SCHOOL  OF  NATURAL  SCIENCES. 

Physics,  Botany,  Geology,  Chemistry,  Physiology,  Moral 
Science. 

SCHOOL  OF  ENGLISH. 

Grammar  and  Composition,  Literature,  Rhetoric.  Special  at- 
tention is  given  in  this  class  to  the  principles  and  structure  of  the 
language. 

SCHOOL  OF  HISTORY. 

American  History. — General  History  with  particular  attention 
to  ancient  and  modern  civilization.  General  History  is  studied 
under  the  heads.  Ancient,  Mediaeval  and  Modern. 

CIVIL  government. 

It  is  desired  to  familiarize  pupils  with  the  Constitution  of  our 
own  country  and  the  principles  of  government. 

remarks  on  the  COURSE  OP  STUDY. 

Students  are  assigned  to  their  classes  at  the  beginning  of  each 
term,  according  to  their  qualifications,  but  will  be  liable  to  a  trans- 
fer to  another  class  when  it  is  deemed  necessary.  No  student  is 
allowed  to  leave  any  class  without  the  permission  of  the  Superin- 
tendent. 

The  instruction  will  be  such  as  is  needful  to  discipline  the  mind 
and  heart,  the  constant  aim  being  to  make  scholars  and  to  secure  a 
thorough  preparation  for  the  real  activities  and  duties  of  life,  thus 
demanding  of  each  pupil  punctuality,  docility,  diligence  and  unre- 
lenting perseverance.. 

Thoroughness  in  every  branch  of  study  is  our  special  aim. 


